February 3, 2010
Last week I needed a tool that would let me and a client view the same computer screen remotely. I found a great tool using the Blandin Toolkit: http://broadband.blandinfoundation.org/toolkit/applications.php
CrossLoop http://www.crossloop.com turned out to be exactly what I needed. My client and I each downloaded the software. It was free and easy. Because we each had the software downloaded either of us could share the view of our desktop. One of us just needed to share our unique code with the other. (The code changes per session.) Once I got her code, I entered it into the software. She got a message saying I was looking to connect with her. She approved my access with a click and then I could see her screen. It would be the perfect solution for a one-to-one demo or tech support.
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Posted by Ann Treacy
January 27, 2010
Thanks to Peter in St Paul for sending me the following web tool:
Readability http://lab.arc90.com/experiments/readability/
It is a funny tool that pulls the main content of a web site away from any clutter to make it easier to read. I’ve used it on a few sites. I find it kind of helpful – but I think if you had any difficulty reading a computer screen – maybe due to visual impairments –it could be a big helper. You can decide how you want to view the site, which font, how large, white on dark text or dark on white and how much margin. Again for most of us this might be more interesting than helpful but if you do know someone with issues reading online this might be gold.
Now my favor – I am on the board of the Twin Cities Daily Planet & TC Media Alliance. You may have read the TCDP: http://www.tcdailyplanet.net or perhaps you have attended a TCMA event or class. One of our big goals is to promote citizens journalism and give voice to everyone. I wonder if you would take a look and consider becoming a member http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/user/register (it’s free, you just sign up). Members can post comments and blogs. If you have a tale to tell you might even consider contributing a story. If you want to become a contributing member (ie give money) that’s even better – but that’s not what I’m asking, I’m just asking you to consider the free membership and see how it goes.) If you do become a member, please let me know. I’m on a mission to spread the good word.
Thanks! Ann
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Posted by Ann Treacy
January 20, 2010
SeeClickFix: http://seeclickfix.com/citizens
I love this site. Login and you can report issues and problems in your community. See a broken street lamp? Report it. Street need plowing? Report it. Emergency? Call 911 – this isn’t for emergencies.
The good news is that local governments and community organizations are watching SeeClickFix. OK that doesn’t mean they’re waiting for directions from us – but we can hope! Also sometimes just having a place to whine can be cathartic. You can get a glimpse of local Minnesota suggestions at the Twin Cities Daily Planet http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/
Hope that helps you get something fixed!
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Posted by Ann Treacy
January 20, 2010
I’m pleased to unveil a new client web site:
It’s for BHB Advisors in St Paul, Minnesota. While BHB Advisors is a new business, the accounts there are not new. I have been using one of them (Matt Bruun) for many years and I have always been super happy with his work. He knows that I’m going to need an extension – every year. He’s dealt with the mess of me spending extended periods overseas. He’s found some nice tax credits (like part of my husband’s PhD tuition) that would never have occurred to me.
We used a WordPress blog for the basis of the web site, which will make it very easy for BHB Advisors to maintain the site themselves.
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Posted by Ann Treacy
January 13, 2010
A Facebook Page is a public profile for a business or product. It’s easy to create a page, it’s very similar to setting up a personal account. You’ll want to have a name in mind, description and maybe some photos. A good Page is updated regularly, giving fans a reason to come back and tell their friends about you.
You can learn more here: http://www.facebook.com/advertising/?pages
A Facebook Group is intended for a gathering place on Facebook for special interest groups. Again it’s very easy to set up a group. You can learn more here: http://www.facebook.com/grouphome.php#/help/?topic=groups
Now of course you can use a Group for a business or Page for a special interest group – but some facilities are built on the intended purposes. The Fan Pages are visible to anyone, you have a wider selection of applications with Pages and you can place ads with the Pages.
You need to have an individual account on Facebook to start a Page or Group. That’s where some problems come in because once you are the owner of a Group or Page it can be difficult to leave. According to Facebook a creator cannot leave a Group, although according to some discussion http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=10381469571&topic=9632 there may be loopholes. The same discussion seems to indicate that it is also difficult to leave a Page. So to be safe, it might make sense to create a individual account separate from your personal account to create a Page or Group – unless you’re sure you’re involved for life.
One quick note from last week’s post on Magic Jack – Garrick in Minneapolis sent me a link to a fun related article:
http://siliconangle.com/blog/2010/01/06/exclusive-magicjack-to-announce-worlds-lowest-priced-femtocell/
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Posted by Ann Treacy
January 7, 2010
First I know many of you will appreciate the humor in the fact that schools in Dublin have been closed today and tomorrow due to snow. Less than 2 inches of snow!
Second since in Dublin I’ve been trying a new online phone service called Magic Jack: http://www.magicjack.com
Magic Jack is a piece of equipment and service that will give you very cheap phone service. You just plug the equipment into a USB port on your computer, then plug a phone into the other side; set up service and away you go. I set it up at home and got a US number. I think I paid $20 for a year of service. Now I can call anyone in the US and they can call me on this number. If I’m not connected they get my voicemail, which is part of the $20 service.
Like Skype the quality is not consistent. I’ve had 30 minute phone calls that were clear as a bell, usually made at night or on the weekend. I’ve had other times (working hours) where the quality has been shaky and where I am cut off every 3 minutes.
What I do like about Magic Jack is that I can make the calls on a phone, not headphones. So even when the quality is not great it seems better than international Skype calls. Voicemail messages are emailed to me. That’s a huge plus. The price is right. Skype is great for video. I think the Skype to Skype calls might have the best consistent quality – but for every day use – especially for friends and family (where it’s OK to call back every 3 minutes) I’m leaning towards the Magic Jack.
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Posted by Ann Treacy
January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
I wanted to start the year off with a Byte with the hope that it would keep me on tracking for weekly (not sporadic) updates for 2010.
This site is a month too late for me (now that we’re in Dublin and our house is occupied in MN) but I thought it might help others: Second Porch: http://secondporch.com
It’s a Facebook Application that helps you promote or find vacation housing. I can’t speak too much about adding a property, except that it’s free – but I can say that searching for a place is easy. Each listing includes comments, recommendations, fans and any connection you might have to the location. (So if you have a friend who has a friend who stayed there you might see that show up.) Place are available for rent or trade.
If you have a place to rent/trade it might be worth checking out. Or it may be a way to find nice accommodations for your next vacation.
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Posted by Ann Treacy
December 24, 2009
Happy Holidays!!
I’m totally cheating this week with the Byte. I wrote a fun article for the Blandin Foundation this month so I thought I’d share it. I’ll give you the first 4 cool tools here – but you’ll have to go to the Blandin site to see the rest:
http://tinyurl.com/c9ded5
1. Twitter (http://www.twitter.com) – a real time, text-based chat service. Members can read and send message through the web, cell phone or other handheld device. It’s not new, but it is reaching more and more people every day.
2. Midomi (http://www.midomi.com/) – a musical search engine where you can sing or hum a song to perform a search. Hum a tune and it will get more information for you.
3. Layar (http://layar.com/) – a cell phone application that shows real time geographic digital information through the camera of your mobile phone. Use it when you visit a new town; point your phone’s camera down a street and laid over a digital map will be information such as street names, building names, names and details of local businesses and even reviews from sites such as Yelp (http://www.yelp.com), when available.
4. Square (https://squareup.com/) – a gadget that allows you to accept credit card payments through any device with an audio input jack. It’s a great soon to small businesses; imagine the artist at a craft fair now able to accept payments quickly, easily and cost effectively.
I’m hoping to check out some of the tools in greater detail in the next few months. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Thanks and have a great holiday!
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Posted by Ann Treacy
December 17, 2009
Google now hosts template-based sites: https://sites.google.com/site/sites/ I set one up: https://sites.google.com/site/pelicancruises/
The good news:
• the site looks very OK
• it only took about an hour for me to setup
• I feel like it could look good with another hour or so work
• I could point a domain name to it
• I suspect it ought to do well with Google
There are definitely some things I don’t love about the site. I’d like to be able to make more changes to the templates. I think it’s easy to plug in Picasa pictures and slideshows.
So while I don’t think you’ll find Fortune 400 businesses moving to this anytime soon, I think this is a great starter web site.
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Posted by Ann Treacy
December 11, 2009
I know I’ve talked about Good Search before – but this is such a good time of year for a reminder of Good Search. Here’s the quick take:
Use Good Search as your search engine http://www.goodsearch.com and your favorite charity will get a penny. You have to specify your charity; you can get a list here: http://www.goodsearch.com/charitylist.aspx. If you are/have a charity to add you can look here: http://www.goodsearch.com/addcharity.aspx
Also they have coupons on their site. If you use one your charity gets a bonus.
My friend reminded me of Good Search because the school where she teaches just joined two days ago. Already they’ve earned more than $5. So it’s a get rich slow plan – but an easy plan. (f you want to just test it out you could designate her school as your charity: Sobriety High Charter School St Paul MN.)
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Posted by Ann Treacy
