The Bird That Changed the World

Twitter.  OMG.

If you’ve never heard of Twitter you’ve either a) just woken up from a lengthy coma, or b) you’re an extraterrestrial.  Even if you don’t trust it or aren’t sure what it is, there’s a 100% chance you’re curious/have been curious about it at some point in time. 

It might be a little too simple for some, especially Facebook addicts, but its simplicity is what makes it so darn addictive.  It’s especially useful for the non-casual user.  It can help businesses and their employees communicate ideas, get ideas or information, and keep up to date with worldly trends and events. 

All I can say is GET A TWITTER ACCOUNT!!  Make sure to mention @fun2last.  

Photo Phobia!

Flickr and Picasa are two very popular image hosting sites.  I’m not going to make a lengthy review for these two because I want you all to know my opinion right away. 

Flickr is very good, and millions of people use it.  It’s stable, free, and easy to use.  However, it’s Yahoo based and that’s a big no-no in my book. 

Picasa is Google based, and if you’ve read any of my other reviews you’d know that I almost always choose Google’s stuff.  I’m not a Google fanboy.  I just really like what they have to offer and how they offer it.  This time around, however, I’m not too sure Google wins.  Picasa is really nice, too, but it’s also nothing special compared to Flickr.  They both are pretty much the same and neither stands out. 

Winner:  Tie

Social Bookmarking... Kinda Similar to Bookmarking Socially

What is social bookmarking?  Well, it's fairly easy to explain.  It's the bookmarking of sites that you find interesting, and sharing them with friends, peers, etc. This is done with social bookmarking sites.  There are many of them out there; all you have to do is look.  

The two I'm going to be introducing/comparing today are Delicious and Diigo.  Cutesy names aside, they both have some seriously cool features and deciding which is better will be difficult.  

Delicious

• Simple, easy to use, and easy to share.  
• Bookmark popularity feature is cool.
• Yahoo is pretty much obsolete.  

Diigo

• Glitzy graphics, more modern looking.
• Highlighting feature is simply awesome.
• Sharing and bookmarking is a little harder to figure out.  

And the winner is...

Diigo.  Delicious is actually better in several ways, but it doesn't have anything going for it.  It's outdated looking and outdated feeling.  Diigo is like a breath of fresh air after using Delicious; Diigo even has tutorials that teach new users how to switch from Delicious to Diigo.  Kind of like the tutorials Macbooks come with that try to erase the awful memories of using blah, run-of-the-mill, boring PCs.  Delicious just isn't that delicious anymore.  Diigo is now more delicious... or is delicious the new Diigo?  We may never know.  

Tool Temptations

I was recently introduced to web 2.0 tools and their uses by a very insightful instructor of mine.  I learned of many, but only two will be duking it out today... Google Docs, the returning champion, and a rookie hoping to steal the title that goes by the name Zoho.

Both of these tools almost eliminate the need for Office software, but only one of them can do it perfectly.  Here's each competitor's strong and weak points:

Google Docs  

• Once again, Google made an awesome, easy to use tool.  What a bunch of nerds...
• Free
• It's absolutely Sharetastic!  Collaboration is absolutely a piece of cake.  Or to my vegan readers, soy cake!
• The only downside is a lack of customizable options.

Zoho

• Just as useful, if not more useful than Docs.
• Free, but not as easy to access as Docs.
• Collaboration is more complicated 
• The layout is much less "Zen" than Docs' layout.  

I was pleasantly surprised by Zoho.  I didn't think it stood a fighting chance against the superpower, but it held its ground.  Google Docs was able to deliver the knockout punch, however.  Once again, since Docs is easily integrated into a Google account it's just too much for any competitors to overcome. Zoho is nice, but nowadays it's just too much work to remember separate passwords and usernames.  Better luck next time, Zoho.  

RSS Aggregation Domination

This post is an assignment for my Advanced Computers class. I have to list three RSS Aggregators that I've used and rate them.  

I tested out FeedDemon, Google Reader, and Bloglines. Here's what I thought about each of them:  

FeedDemon

• Good Interface; intuitive 
• Adding subscriptions is fairly simple
• Subscriptions bog it down every once in a while

Google Reader

• Through Google, not a separate site; seamless Google account integration
• Speedy
• Kind of a cluttered appearance

Bloglines

• Very customizable 
• Simple to add feeds
• Well designed interface, very user intuitive
• Learning curve might be a tad steep for some

It was a close race, but Bloglines is the victor.  I really like Google  Reader because of the ease of access, but Bloglines takes the cake with its large array of personal customizations and easy-to-use interface.  FeedDemon comes trotting in at last place because of its mushy performance and lack of unique features.    

Uh Oh...

We all love our parents.  We appreciate the effort they've put forth to give us a good life and good education.  They teach us life lessons and steer us in the right direction towards a bright future.  However, sometimes it's nice to have a place to go where there are no parents.

Bum bum buummmmm.   Our parents are discovering Facebook.  Gone are the days where we could escape from their prying eyes in the never-ending depths of The Social Network; now we must tremble in terror at the thought of seeing a friend request from them.  What to do?  Here's what you should do:

• Ignore:  Pretend you never saw the request.  Pray that they don't ask you about it. 
• Run:  Run Forrest, run!
• Delete Your Account, Go Back to Myspace:  Just kidding... who would do that?
• Convert to Buddhism, Move to Thailand:  There's a chance they won't find you there.

Here's what you shouldn't do:

• CONFIRM THE REQUEST:  You're signing your life away if you do that.  

Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

A Piper's Journey

I decided to embark on an epic journey about a week ago... I'm going to learn bagpipes, one of the most difficult instruments to learn.  


I ordered a practice chanter which is designed to familiarize the student with finger positions and posture... learning the notes on actual bagpipes might cause permanent ear damage.  Hopefully I can advance to pipes within a year.  I've always wanted an excuse to wear a kilt; what better excuse is there than playing bagpipes?


I'll make sure to post videos of my progress once I receive the chanter.  

What Makes a Blog Blogtastic?

There are many things to consider when trying to make a blog "blogtastic."  You must catch the reader's eye with things such as:

• Widgets. They're fun to mess around with for you and potential viewers.  
• Easy to read and informative sentences. Write in a way that would appeal to 7th graders and rocket scientists
• Photos/Videos.  Essential, but remember; if it's a picture your mom wouldn't like, don't post it.  
• A unique layout.  If your blog looks boring, it probably is.  

These are just a fraction of all the possible ways to make your blog fantastic like mine.  I highly suggest doing a little research on your own... and make sure to have a "feedable fish" widget.

Paranoia via cellularized telephone

I currently own the original Motorola Droid, and it has served me very well over the past year.  I have learned to appreciate all that Google has to offer.

The quality control of my Droid, like most Motorola products, is spotty.  My first device was wimpy, and my replacement has since acquired dust under its so-called "seamless" Gorilla Glass screen.  Overall, however, it has held up very well during its life in my pocket.

Come next January when my two-year plan expires, I will have the option of switching to a new VZW device.  Despite my love for Android, I think that iPhone and its apps are equally impressive; the touch screens on them are also light years ahead of any other device.  On the other hand, Android is coming out with some pretty sweet devices, and they're sure to keep getting better.

If anyone can help me decide, it would be much appreciated!

Fosmon Transparent Clear Screen Protector for Motorola Droid X MB810 with Lint Cleaning Cloth, 3 Packs

Web 1.0 vs web 2.0

When I was growing up in the 90’s and early 2000’s, the web was pretty boring.  I can remember that most web sites were very similar and dull.  That was web 1.0, the framework for what was to come. 

Web 1.0 was designed to give you the information you needed and nothing more.  There were definitely no frills.  The creation of web sites was also difficult due to HTML code, so there weren’t nearly as many resources online as there are today. 

About halfway through the first decade of the 2000’s, what was to become formally known as web 2.0 began to take shape.  Web sites started to get more colorful, more graphically active.  Things such as DHTML made pages pop (sometimes too much; processors were painfully slow back then).  Web sites were all of a sudden, dare I say it, easy for the average person to create.  The web was evolving, and so were people.  In the olden days of web 1.0, people used computers as simple tools.  As 2.0 took over, they became much more personal.  The web became a place to meet others, share ideas, and express one’s self. 

As the years roll on, we are definitely going to see another evolution of the web; web 3.0.  It will be an extension of the web we know today.  It will be even more user friendly, helpful, creative, and vast.  The web will become invaluable… even more so than today.