Belated Tech Thursday - Netflix Instant Watch

I wanted to do something a little different for Tech Thursday. Instead of a tangible piece of technology, I want to rate an online system.

Netflix "Watch Instantly"

You can finally watch Netflix movies instantly on Mac computers. But there are a few system requirements you need before you begin. You gotta have an Intel-based Mac with OSX, use the internet browsers Safari or Firefox (who's not using Firefox these days), and at least a GB of ram. Other than that, your good to go.

When you add movies to your Netflix queue, certain movies have a play now button next to the title. Most of the older movies or animations will have this option. When you click play for the first time, a program will download. Then the browser will check your internet settings and start playing your movie. I thought I'd give it a try and watch "Justice League: The New Frontier". It was a pretty good movie and the system worked really well, eventhough my wireless connection was cutting on and off all day. If you lose your connection you can click the refresh button and it will start from where you left off. Pretty awesome, huh. Be mindful that I was watching the movie on my iMac with 4GBs of RAM and cable internet.

So, if your looking for some entertainment on your comp and movies in your mail, get Netflix.
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Now playing: SunSet Swish - Mosaic Kakera
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Tech Thursday - iConnect

Have you ever wanted to listen to music in bed, but woke up to find that you ruined yet another pair of headphones? I’ve been there. That’s why a very close soror of mine suggested that I buy the iConnect. This item, not associated with Apple in any way, is a round pillow 10 inches in diameter with a small speaker in the center.

I got it at Bed, Bath and Beyond for about $10. It comes in a variety of colors, like the first generation ipod minis. When I got to the store only pink was available; green would have been really nice. The speaker cord is conveniently tucked away in a small hole and is about 40 inches long. The volume level is pretty good. You can either turn up your music player or use the volume dial on the cord. It doesn’t make the softest pillow, but it does blend nicely with your bedding. You can tuck it back in the plastic, see through carrying case it came in.

I've looked around and can't seem to find this exact product anywhere, but I did find something similar at JC Penneys and Target and eBay. Try it out and see how it works for you.
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Now playing: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - God Knows - Aya Hirano
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Tech Thurs - Mandun Solar Charger

Mandun Solar Charger

I brought this online from cellphoneshop.net. I wasn’t sure it was going to work but I was curious to see a solar panel in action. I think I paid about $25 for it. A bit of an investment. I'm not usually that loose with my money. The item came with a variety of connection pieces to charge anything from a digital camera to an mp3 player and also a phone. There are two ways to charge the panel: You can use the wall charger or place the panel in direct sunlight. I used the wall charge method.

After it was fully charger, I tossed it somewhere and forgot about it for a couple of months. Then when I broke my phone I had to use my old one. Thank goodness I didn't have it recycled just yet. However, I couldn’t find the charger that came with it. So, I yanked out the solar panel, found the connecting piece and hooked it up. To my surprise, not only was it still charged, it began to power up my phone. Essentially, it’s a universal charger if you have a problem finding the right cord or your phone dies on the road. If your phone or device has a unique charge port, then it probably won’t have the part. All in all, it’s a great device for someone who loses their charger, travels a lot or goes camping and can’t be too far from modern conveniences.

Have you tried this device or something similar that used a solar panel? How’d you like it? Leave a comment :)
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Now playing: Natasha Bedingfield - Pocket Full Of Sunshine
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Tech Thursdays - Crest Spinbrush Toothbrush

The toothbrush was great when I first got it. It had two speeds and made my teeth feel like I had just came from the dentist without the unnecessary pain. One part of the head rotates while the other moves up and down. About 3 months or so later, the battery died (the AA I put in). So, I recharged them and after a week or so, the battery died again. Eventually, it stopped working altogether. I tried recharging my batteries and even adding new ones and that didn't help.

I contacted the company, thinking I had a defective product. They sent me a coupon for a replacement. I ended up getting the Spinbrush one speed. After a few weeks it too stopped working. Well, it was useful and great while it lasted. I did learn a few things:

1. When buying an electric toothbrush, pay more for the plug-in variety. That way you won't spend more time and $$$ replacing the batteries.

2. Make sure to brush close to the gums. It's easy to forget that.

3. If all else fails, go back to your manual brush. You'll have more control, it'll last at least 6 months, and you'll invest only a few bucks (unless you get one free from your dentist) :)

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Now playing: Madonna - Dress You Up In My Love
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