Dave Zatz, Author at Zatz Not Funny!

Eye-Fi Enables Web Self Publishing

Eye-Fi is out with an API update this week that enables personal web publishing. Their clever WiFi-endowed SD card lineup has traditionally beamed one’s digital photos from the camera to a personal computer or photo sharing services in the cloud (Flickr, Picasa, etc). Now, the more technically savvy amongst us, have the opportunity to transmit photographs to their own Gallery 3 powered web site via Eye-Fi. From the email blast:

Eye-Fi has just made available a document that shows you how to use simple APIs to have the Eye-Fi card send photos & videos to your own site. This has been one of the most requested features.

Head on over to Eye-Fi’s Developer page or grab the PDF integration doc for inetegration details.

How Does Netflix Prioritize Video Inventory?

As we know, the video streaming sites like Hulu and Netflix (now Amazon, too) serve up is quite variable. Titles come, and titles go. Emphasizing the complex (and costly) licensing forces at play. Interestingly, Netflix may harness the power of their community as one factor in determining the content (physical and digital?) they go after. … Read more

Track Amazon Shipments via Text Message

So I’m about two years late on this bit of “news” … but if I’m just discovering it, there could be others in a similar boat. You see, I’m such an early adopter that I’ve largely missed out on the text messaging phenomenom. I picked up the original Sidekick in 2002 and have been emailing … Read more

Roku: “DVR is Dead”

TechCrunch has posted a series of video interviews of Roku CEO Anthony Wood. Who also happened to found Replay TV, one of the first two DVR products on the market. (Yeah, the other would be TiVo.) If nothing else, the link’s worth hitting to tally up the number and variations of “kill” and “death” in a … Read more

DirecTV TiVo, What We Think We Know

As we’re about out of runway for an “early 2011” launch and in light of DirecTV’s recent communique possibly suggesting the schedule has slipped again, I’ve been directed to DBStalk for details on the new DirecTV TiVo experience. Now I can’t vouch for the info from the forums, but there appear to be multiple data … Read more

Updated DirecTV TiVo Timing?

Has the highly anticipated (new) DirecTiVo been delayed once again? Last we heard, from a TiVo SVP, the modernized DirecTV DVR was on track for an early 2011 launch… and anecdotally corroborated via beta testing recruitment. Yet a doubtful Twitter inquiry was met with this DirecTV response yesterday: Details are still being determined, launch maybe … Read more

Amazon Launches “Free” Video Streaming (For $79/yr)

So Amazon’s accidentally leaked all-you-can-eat video streaming has come to pass. And the Hulu, Netflix competitor is free to all Prime members. Well, all full price Prime subscribers. As it looks like those of you on free or discounted subs have been left out. I’m an occasional, but current, Prime member — $79 a year gets me free 2 day shipping and discounted overnight or same-day shipping ($3.99) on physical goods.

So my first thought this AM was, I’m cancelling Netflix! Or Hulu Plus! But it’s not yet clear what sort of quality one can expect from Amazon’s catalog of commercial free video content. Indeed, Engadget took a quick look and wasn’t overly impressed with the picture. Additionally, while Amazon offers over 90,000 pieces of digital video content… only 5,000 are available for “free.” And who knows what determines the selection and rotation.

But I have to say I’m impressed with the wide variety of devices Amazon was able to launch the service with.

What Might The Amazon Kindle 4 Look Like?

While many have fixated on the iPad 2, I’ve begun wondering what a Kindle 4 might look like. First off, I believe Amazon will continue to drive the price down on an entry level e-reader to increase uptake. Whether that’s existing $139 WiFi Kindle hardware, or a refreshed product remains to be seen. But I anticipate Amazon will hit the magical $99 price point in time for Christmas 2011. But what might a higher end Kindle look like?

Amazon could go the Barnes & Noble route by introducing a color LCD media-centric tablet. And that would actually make a whole lot of sense given the other digital media properties Amazon could leverage – MP3s, video on demand, and now free, instant streaming for Prime subscribers (!). Yet given the continued bashing of reflective screens in sunlight (screengrab from their latest television commercial below) and what looks to be a successful business relationship with e-Ink, 2011 may not be the year.

However, that’s not to say the Kindle platform will remain stagnant if Amazon sticks with e-Ink.