Kontan.

Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

I believe the new phone is going to work out nicely. There are SO many more apps available! This post is a great example…Crackberry users who also use wordpress need to check out the wp Blackberry appM Mobile blogging- when you just need to vent right away.

and I think I like it. Jem got one too. We switched our service and I’m hoping it was a wise move. I think it was, but time will tell. Jem has had trouble with @tee&tee and receiving calls at work so it is a step up for him. Me too, I hope. The girls will switch when their contacts are up. So far I’m happy with the Crackberry’s functionality. There are a few things that bother me, but I’m going to look for an app that fixes it- or the phone may do it and I just don’t know how yet. I can’t figure out how to customize the homescreen or the shortcuts for things like create new sms. It’s Jem’s first PDA/Smartphone so it will be amusing to see how he likes it. For lack of nothing better to blog, thought I would share…

My own Crackberry

The summer is flying by and will be gone before I know it! We are planning to make a visit home soon. I’m looking forward to seeing the family and relaxing. There will be school prep to work on, but it will all be made better by reading poolside.

Techno geek that I am, I’m playing with a few things lately. First, I installed a wordpress mobile edition plugin that I think I’m going to like, and I would like to encourage my blog friends who can to install it on their sites too. It allows people who read your blog on a pda/mobile device to actually see your content without frustration. It seems to work great when I view with Mobile IE, but I’m not happy with it on Opera Mobile. I’m a little shocked that I prefer Mobile IE over a different browser. On that note, I am playing with Opera as a web browser and really like it. I can make it function like Firefox, with my beloved button bar, but the widgets are terrible. Mozilla add-ons are so much better. I’m not sure I will be making the switch on my personal computer, but certainly on my work computer where I have to use Opera for other things.

Several months ago I read about Photoscape on Nicole’s blog. I like that there is so much you can do to play with your photos, but I am still learning how to actually use it. There are several options that I just don’t know what they do. It isn’t difficult to use, it is just my lack of photo knowledge that gets in the way. I’m used to Picasa (which I still love for quick fix color fun) where you just click and it does something for you, or you can customize on your own. I must say though, not having a great camera (Kodak z612) I like the ability to enhance your images using Photoscape. Don’t get me wrong, my camera is perfectly adequate for point and click, document the moment, photography. It just isn’t capable of much more, and to be honest neither am I.

I did capture a disturbing glamour shot of Tiki finishing her peanut butter. I was laughing too much to capture her face prior to cleaning. She had it all over her doggy lips and teeth. It was like a toddler eating spaghetti.

Not to be outdone, Alli posed for her moment in the flash.

The saying is that opposites attract. I wouldn’t say that Jem and I are truly opposites, but in our hobbies we are. Let me explain the similarities first. We both love music, a good wine, and . . .er . . . I’m thinking. I don’t know. There are probably other things. I’ve taken to keeping up with Auburn football, but I’m not totally interested in sitting through watching the whole game on TV.

Our hobbies, or other interest, not so similar. I like to be outside, go hiking, and explore new trails. Jem is over all of that and gets very little enjoyment out of it. I like to sit down and finish a book in one sitting. Jem likes to read, but he doesn’t read feverishly until the end. Jem likes NASCAR. I have no desire to sit through a race, much less a weekend racing marathon. The place we differ the most? Technology. I am a gadget geek. I love technology. A new phone, new computer, new software…I’m all about it. It fascinates me to be able to create something with new software for my blog, or to find a new plug-in or computer tool. It’s fun for me. I love to learn all the ins and outs, short-cuts, and extensions. Jem wants to be able to the basics and leave it at that.

We have common ground, and we often find it. The tech thing for him is like the NASCAR thing for me. We don’t understand the others fascination with the hobby. It doesn’t matter as long as we appreciate the fact that we are different.

Now…I have a book that is waiting to be finished.

Inspiration for this post:

. . . a new phone gadget that I probably don’t need but think is totally cool.

Testing the Postie plugin

*update*
New Plugin! Postie

Blog updates was one thing I wanted to use Twitter for. However, when I enabled the tool that would do a blog post the Twitter plugin went a little schitz. WP has an email-post function, but it required manual action to get the post to show. Not interested in that. If I wanted to manually update after an email post then I would just manually post! After periodic searches and a solid hour of wasted time (it took me that long to give in and read the instructions) I installed, activated, and configured Postie. I like it. Perfect for techno geeks like me! If you choose to play with Postie I recommend that you read the instructions FIRST. That whole part about creating two new folders in your WP directory…yeah, he meant that. It has to be done or the plugin won’t work. Simple to install (if you follow directions) and simple to use. Make sure the email addy you use is secure. Kind of an important point if you don’t want some twit posting to your blog for kicks and giggles.

Twitter, don’t knock it til you try it. I am NOT a NYT fan, but I keep them in my feedreader for kicks, giggles, and perspective. Geek that I am, I do enjoy their tech articles.  This particular articles is rather amusing.  Twitter is a means of keeping friends/family/etc up to date by texting the answer to one simple question, “what are you doing?” Your “tweet”, or response, is received by your followers. Response messages can be turned off/on if you do not want a text from ALL of your followers everytime they get the urge to say what they are up to. Most people use it about like their fbook status and say whatever they happen to be thinking, doing, or reading.  You can update via web or via text, doesn’t matter.  iGoogle (which I now hate), netvibes, and other homepage sites have twitter apps that let you update without going to the webpage or your phone.  You can also link your personal site to Twitter.  Now that I have taken up time explaining what it is, let me get to the article…

Twitter is truly whatever you want it to be.   Some use it for business.  Some use it as a social tool. Some use it for the fun of playing with a new gadget.  It’s jsut a new gadget for me, but I do wish more of my family used it.  It is a neat way to keep up with info tidbits that connect you with others.  I may not have time to type an entire email, or blog post, but I can quickly tweet that I’m having a great day or a rough day…or good news we receive.

 Just another fun tech tool IMO.  Any opinions?

Yes, the gadget geek inside me strikes again.  Actually, Jem found this and I am having the best time exploring and customizing to my own web desires.  What is the new web toy?  A new browser.  Flock. 

Here’s what I know.  All of my favorite sites:  Facebook, Twitter, GMail, Photobucket, and all my blog buddies are linked in the same place with feeds and even site access for the social networks!  If you remember a while back I ranted about the the new iGoogle and how the new iGoogle sucks.  Problem solved.  News, blogs, and social sites all in one place with Flock!

I have been a Firefox fan for years.  Since switching to Firefox I have ventured back to IE when they tried to be like Firefox and failed miserably.  I also tried Safari, but liked its smooth look and nothing else.  Opera is a browser I have to use for my school grades, but I’m not a fan.  Firefox always came out on top…and it still may, but…

Flock is created in the shadow of Firefox and uses the same open source format.  It has all the goodness of Firefox, with the added benefit of included social network access within the browser, all your feeds so you can ditch iGoogle, and an attractive look too.  You can also blog from within the browser.  Yes, many of the same activities can be done through Firefox, but it requires the addition of add-ons.  All of my favorite Firefox features are included. 

Still exploring so I may have to come back and say no, stop, don’t!  Right now, I don’t think so.  I’m intrigued by the newness.

OMG, since Flock is powered by Mozilla most of the Firefox add-ons work with Flock! I can keep my Foxytunes! Yes, I’m a geek.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our family time. The girls received a Wii for Christmas and it is tons-o-fun. It is also my new exercise routine.

Upgraded to WP 2.7 and WOW! Love the QuickPress feature but was TOTALLY confused when all of the admin tools were missing. If you have an admin theme or dropdown admin features installed it will be necessary to deactivate and leave deactivated for the new WP version to work. I kind of like the new. Much easier to customize and one click to get to what you want in the tools. Did I mention QuickPress is cool?

A Canadian man, apparently unable to find the perfect woman, has done the next best thing — he’s built himself one.

Dude has issues.  Step away from your computer.  Step into the real world.  You know, I have a student or two that would think this is the ultimate.  I’m sorry, I think it’s weird.  Not so much the robot part as the fact that he took the time to include sensors in various areas.  33 yo guy wonders why he can’t find the perfect woman,  mmmm….mystery solved.  Techno geek qualities aside, it could be the fact that his perfect woman is Aiko who he describes, “Aiko doesn’t need holidays, food or rest, and will work almost 24 hours a day. She is the perfect woman.”  Wow, even his robot has that WTH? look down.

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