It's obvious that I'm a fan of Google's Picasa for playing with photo's.
Imagine my delight to discover that a new version is on the way, Picasa 3, that does many more magical things, quicker and better.
I viewed the launch video on Youtube, saw the new features working, and was drooling with anticipation to download the Beta version immediately.
BUT, it's only available in the US at this stage!
(When I log-in to Picasa, due to my gmail profile, I am taken to an International page from which I can only download the version I already have.)
Grrrrrr!
Thursday 4 September 2008
Lessons from TOW2 in practice - Part 16!
How I use the web is constantly changing and it's been valuable to review it during the course.
Currently I want to be able to do several things:
1. ACCESS all my existing material, on any subject, from any computer, from anywhere, at anytime, quickly, easily and securely.
(eg. I want to be in Philadelphia at my cousin's computer and be able to show her our GGGrandparent's actual Marriage Certificate.
It's currently in a drawer in my filing cabinet, on my home PC, and now privately online.)
2. PULL material that I may be interested in, automatically, from the Web.
(eg. I want to learn how to take better photos and use my new DSLR camera.
I'm now subscribed to 2 "Beginners" groups on Flickr that feed by RSS to my iGoogle page.)
3. PUT material that others may be interested in OR that I may want for future reference on the Web.
(eg. I've now started a new Blog called Phlogging that records the progress of my photography journey primarily for my benefit.
Information gleaned from the web is now summarized on a private Luminotes wiki and my attempts to use it are recorded on the public Phlogging blog.)
The next post to this blog will update my progress towards these 3 goals.
Currently I want to be able to do several things:
1. ACCESS all my existing material, on any subject, from any computer, from anywhere, at anytime, quickly, easily and securely.
(eg. I want to be in Philadelphia at my cousin's computer and be able to show her our GGGrandparent's actual Marriage Certificate.
It's currently in a drawer in my filing cabinet, on my home PC, and now privately online.)
2. PULL material that I may be interested in, automatically, from the Web.
(eg. I want to learn how to take better photos and use my new DSLR camera.
I'm now subscribed to 2 "Beginners" groups on Flickr that feed by RSS to my iGoogle page.)
3. PUT material that others may be interested in OR that I may want for future reference on the Web.
(eg. I've now started a new Blog called Phlogging that records the progress of my photography journey primarily for my benefit.
Information gleaned from the web is now summarized on a private Luminotes wiki and my attempts to use it are recorded on the public Phlogging blog.)
The next post to this blog will update my progress towards these 3 goals.
A Day Is A Long Time On The Web
This post, and future posts, will be about what happens after The Taste of Web 2.0 course.
The web world as we've known it changed again yesterday - dramatically!
Google launched an entirely new web browser called Chrome.
(It can be downloaded from the main Google search page.)
To understand the significance of the event it is worth devoting 52 minutes of your time to watching the launch video on YouTube.
And having used it for 24 hours I'd have to say that it is definitely quicker and friendlier than IE7, the new Firefox 3 and Safari.
ALL the Web 2.0 apps we have been introduced to during the course work better - even Blogger.
It again raises the issue of being organized online.
I've previously said that Netvibes was going to be a better option for me than iGoogle.
That's all changed.
The idea of Netvibes was a better option but in practice they (or maybe I) can't keep it working properly.
So, I'll be reverting to a combination of iGoogle (for material I PULL from the Web) and a Google Sites Homepage (as a single directory for material I PUT on the web).
The web world as we've known it changed again yesterday - dramatically!
Google launched an entirely new web browser called Chrome.
(It can be downloaded from the main Google search page.)
To understand the significance of the event it is worth devoting 52 minutes of your time to watching the launch video on YouTube.
And having used it for 24 hours I'd have to say that it is definitely quicker and friendlier than IE7, the new Firefox 3 and Safari.
ALL the Web 2.0 apps we have been introduced to during the course work better - even Blogger.
It again raises the issue of being organized online.
I've previously said that Netvibes was going to be a better option for me than iGoogle.
That's all changed.
The idea of Netvibes was a better option but in practice they (or maybe I) can't keep it working properly.
So, I'll be reverting to a combination of iGoogle (for material I PULL from the Web) and a Google Sites Homepage (as a single directory for material I PUT on the web).
Sunday 31 August 2008
The Last (only kidding) Post - the Future
After 32 posts in 31 days this will (NOT) be the final one.
The Taste of Web 2.0 course has helped distil my thoughts on the Internet, communication and human interaction into the future.
My guess is that in the near future (say 5 years time) the only important hardware and software we'll need is whatever gets us onto the Internet quickly and comfortably from wherever we are.
This course is a prime example of what I mean - every activity was done entirely on the internet.
It didn't matter where you were, whether you used a PC or Mac, what time of day you applied yourself, what software apart from a browser was installed on your computer, or what speed your connection was.
What mattered was that you could get to the course material online, complete the online tasks online, and access your material online.
This wasn't without its' problems though, and provided the first LN2BF (Lesson Never To Be Forgotten) :
LN2BF #1 - Be Organised Online.
With the multitude of links, and especially the number of sites we had to register for, it is crucial to have ALL your Bookmarks, User names and Passwords securely but readily accessible online.
My solution was to create a private Google Document with the various Usernames and Passwords recorded in an elementary code, and my Bookmarks on my private Netvibes page.
This meant I only had to remember one name and one password.
LN2BF#2 - Google is Good but not the Be-all and End-all
I didn't know that all the widgets and gadgets encountered existed, or that I could learn to play the piano accordian I'd bought on eBay by watching 10 YouTube video lessons, or that so many different programs and services existed on the Web.
I had used many useful Google services because they were offered to me by Google.
But Flickr is probably going to be more beneficial for me in future than Picasa Web Albums.
Netvibes will be more practical than iGoogle.
Even Blogger used in the course is not necessarily the most suitable program for my future blogging needs. A new Wordpress blog will start soon. (It looks and feels more "comfortable" with some added benefits.)
LN2BF#3 - Pulling and Pushing the Web for Your Benefit- Build Your Own Network
(Refer to the video mentioned previously)
I can decide what I want to Pull from the Web (or have pushed at me); what I want to Push or Put on the Web; and who knows what about me.
For example, the benefits to be gained from Flickr are quadrupled if I share some of my material and knowledge, and seek specific useful material from kindred spirits.
For 10 years I have been happy to be an invisible receiver of generally useful material.
I have now experienced the benefits of sharing my thoughts and material that, amazingly, others seem happy to receive.
And, by being more specific and selective, I can have less but better information Pushed to me.
Thank You.
The Taste of Web 2.0 course has helped distil my thoughts on the Internet, communication and human interaction into the future.
My guess is that in the near future (say 5 years time) the only important hardware and software we'll need is whatever gets us onto the Internet quickly and comfortably from wherever we are.
This course is a prime example of what I mean - every activity was done entirely on the internet.
It didn't matter where you were, whether you used a PC or Mac, what time of day you applied yourself, what software apart from a browser was installed on your computer, or what speed your connection was.
What mattered was that you could get to the course material online, complete the online tasks online, and access your material online.
This wasn't without its' problems though, and provided the first LN2BF (Lesson Never To Be Forgotten) :
LN2BF #1 - Be Organised Online.
With the multitude of links, and especially the number of sites we had to register for, it is crucial to have ALL your Bookmarks, User names and Passwords securely but readily accessible online.
My solution was to create a private Google Document with the various Usernames and Passwords recorded in an elementary code, and my Bookmarks on my private Netvibes page.
This meant I only had to remember one name and one password.
LN2BF#2 - Google is Good but not the Be-all and End-all
I didn't know that all the widgets and gadgets encountered existed, or that I could learn to play the piano accordian I'd bought on eBay by watching 10 YouTube video lessons, or that so many different programs and services existed on the Web.
I had used many useful Google services because they were offered to me by Google.
But Flickr is probably going to be more beneficial for me in future than Picasa Web Albums.
Netvibes will be more practical than iGoogle.
Even Blogger used in the course is not necessarily the most suitable program for my future blogging needs. A new Wordpress blog will start soon. (It looks and feels more "comfortable" with some added benefits.)
LN2BF#3 - Pulling and Pushing the Web for Your Benefit- Build Your Own Network
(Refer to the video mentioned previously)
I can decide what I want to Pull from the Web (or have pushed at me); what I want to Push or Put on the Web; and who knows what about me.
For example, the benefits to be gained from Flickr are quadrupled if I share some of my material and knowledge, and seek specific useful material from kindred spirits.
For 10 years I have been happy to be an invisible receiver of generally useful material.
I have now experienced the benefits of sharing my thoughts and material that, amazingly, others seem happy to receive.
And, by being more specific and selective, I can have less but better information Pushed to me.
Memo to self:
The future is about storing and organising your material in cyberspace, sharing but controlling what is shared with others, and keeping up with the best ways to access it.
Time and money should be spent on the storing, organising and accessing, NOT on computer hardware!
Thank You.
Cripes - Skype is alive!
My tentative foray into the Skype world showed just how immediate it can potentially be, and how the "dodgy's" (you know, spammers, vaigra salesmen etc.) are everywhere.
Within 10 seconds of completing the sign up and testing my setup, my PC beeps and there was a porn service with a pre-recorded welcome message on Skype for me!
It didn't take too long to learn how to block callers, and to figure out that I will only have it activated after pre-arranging a time by email with my contacts.
However, I must make sure that my contacts do know that I can be available on Skype - hence the link on my new public Netvibes page.
Within 10 seconds of completing the sign up and testing my setup, my PC beeps and there was a porn service with a pre-recorded welcome message on Skype for me!
It didn't take too long to learn how to block callers, and to figure out that I will only have it activated after pre-arranging a time by email with my contacts.
However, I must make sure that my contacts do know that I can be available on Skype - hence the link on my new public Netvibes page.
I have enough trouble managing the one I have without a Second Life!
Call me a sceptic if you like but I just don't "get" the hype behind Second Life.
Perhaps it's because I've never taken to Fantasy Fiction, Dungeons & Dragons etc., but I cannot for the life of me see why the University of Ohio, for example, has a need to spend real time and real money on a simulated University of Ohio on Second Life when they can spend less and achieve the same objectives by developing their "real" online presence (if they haven't already).
My new Web 2.0 REAL life will be enough, thanks.
Perhaps it's because I've never taken to Fantasy Fiction, Dungeons & Dragons etc., but I cannot for the life of me see why the University of Ohio, for example, has a need to spend real time and real money on a simulated University of Ohio on Second Life when they can spend less and achieve the same objectives by developing their "real" online presence (if they haven't already).
My new Web 2.0 REAL life will be enough, thanks.
Myspace, Facebook, Ning and Netvibes
There are definite benefits to be had with either a Myspace or Facebook page and joining their groups or communities.
The benefits are that you can have a personal public presence but the drawback is that it is only public to other Myspace or Facebook members who you accept as "friends".
I joined both Myspace and Facebook, looked around both, but chose not to pursue either because of the requirement for anyone I wish to refer to my content having to become a member themselves.
There is also seems to be an element of the "mob madness", in that pages are created simply because it is "cool" to do so.
I also signed up as a member of Ning as I had found a specific group that I was interested in, but again the membership requirement was off-putting.
In the post about iGoogle I referred to Netvibes and I have been developing BOTH my PRIVATE pages for the information I "Pull" from the Web and PUBLIC pages for my new authentic personal web presence.
It is just less complicated having a single web portal.
Instead of, for example, joining a Photography group on Ning I can join a (better) Beginners Photography group on Flickr, and refer anyone wanting to check me out to my public Netvibes page via my Flickr profile.
(As I have now done on the profile on this Blog.)
The benefits are that you can have a personal public presence but the drawback is that it is only public to other Myspace or Facebook members who you accept as "friends".
I joined both Myspace and Facebook, looked around both, but chose not to pursue either because of the requirement for anyone I wish to refer to my content having to become a member themselves.
There is also seems to be an element of the "mob madness", in that pages are created simply because it is "cool" to do so.
I also signed up as a member of Ning as I had found a specific group that I was interested in, but again the membership requirement was off-putting.
In the post about iGoogle I referred to Netvibes and I have been developing BOTH my PRIVATE pages for the information I "Pull" from the Web and PUBLIC pages for my new authentic personal web presence.
It is just less complicated having a single web portal.
Instead of, for example, joining a Photography group on Ning I can join a (better) Beginners Photography group on Flickr, and refer anyone wanting to check me out to my public Netvibes page via my Flickr profile.
(As I have now done on the profile on this Blog.)
It's not that I'm anti-social ...
Before I approached Module 6, I had another look at a thought provoking video discovered in Module 4 about Web 2.0 : "Web 2.0 and Your Own Learning and Development" by Stephen Downes of the National Research Council Canada.
Despite having a great face for radio, he unabashedly explains to camera how the Internet and interpersonal communication are undergoing a revolution; what it all means; how essential it is to be up-to-speed with Web 2.0; and, most importantly, how to sensibly use it.
(Warning to YPRL employees - he says that books are effectively becoming obsolete!)
He identifies two elements of the future with Web 2.0 :
(a) Information we "PULL" from the Internet [ like RSS feeds, video's, search results etc.]
and (b) Information we "PUSH" [ like blogs, personal pages and websites etc]
and basically says that if we are not doing BOTH, sensibly, then we will be missing out.
Further, he suggests that authenticity will become a key element of our online behaviour.
Having to this date been overly cautious to "hide" my identity on-line, this need for authenticity poses a problem, and it was with this video in mind that Module 6 was approached.
I was seeking the most effective way of "pulling" information I want to receive and the most effective way of "putting" a more authentic personal presence on the Web.
Despite having a great face for radio, he unabashedly explains to camera how the Internet and interpersonal communication are undergoing a revolution; what it all means; how essential it is to be up-to-speed with Web 2.0; and, most importantly, how to sensibly use it.
(Warning to YPRL employees - he says that books are effectively becoming obsolete!)
He identifies two elements of the future with Web 2.0 :
(a) Information we "PULL" from the Internet [ like RSS feeds, video's, search results etc.]
and (b) Information we "PUSH" [ like blogs, personal pages and websites etc]
and basically says that if we are not doing BOTH, sensibly, then we will be missing out.
Further, he suggests that authenticity will become a key element of our online behaviour.
Having to this date been overly cautious to "hide" my identity on-line, this need for authenticity poses a problem, and it was with this video in mind that Module 6 was approached.
I was seeking the most effective way of "pulling" information I want to receive and the most effective way of "putting" a more authentic personal presence on the Web.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)