Doug Geivett
I’m a sucker for great technology. To be “great,” new technology has to meet certain conditions:
• I’ll use it frequently.
• I’ll enjoy using it.
• Using it will improve the quality of life for myself and others.
• It’s free. (Well, not really.)
It’s a bonus if a new tool facilitates my film fancies.
A great example is the Garmin StreetPilot my wife got me for Christmas (since I don’t like to ask for directions). Its suction cup works on glass surfaces, it’s powered through the lighter receptacle, and it’s totally portable. During the past two months I’ve used it during vacation on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, in Colorado on a business trip, and all around LA and Orange counties where I live. The other day I used it to find a movie theater in an unfamiliar area where I had met a friend for dinner. All I had to do was select entertainment on the touch menu and then movie theaters. Voilá—I’ve got a list of theaters ranked in order of proximity. I touch the screen for the one that suits me, and I get detailed onscreen directions supported by the soothing voice of someone named “Karen.” So the StreetPilot is a great tool for film fanatics who travel.
Another nifty resource is the TiVo DVR. Most people know about TiVo. What many people still don’t know is that you can now download movies and other video to your TiVo online. The service is called “Unbox,” made through an agreement between TiVo and Amazon.com. You can rent or buy a movie and have it loaded onto your TiVo within minutes. And the prices are competitive, especially for those who aren’t into delayed gratification. The most I’ve paid is $3.99 for a movie rental. And often there are special discounts on my film faves.
One more item that’s got my interest—the Kindle, also from Amazon.com. The Kindle is a book-sized reader that holds loads of books, newspapers, and magazines that are downloaded wirelessly wherever you happen to be. You pay for the book or other downloaded item, but not for the Whispernet service. Click, buy, and read, all without cables or an internet connection. And the prices on books and subscriptions are good.