What is a "Read It Later" service?

Whether you use your computer, tablet, laptop, eReader or other mobile device - such as a Smartphone or iPhone to "surf the web" we all have the opportunity to read numerous articles, watch videos and other information from friends & family on Facebook, Twitter or maybe Pinterest; or you get News Feeds from your favorite media websites... BUT you don't have time to read or view them all now..  

That's how a "Read it later" service or app can help.  These "apps" saves the information - link - etc. so you can view the article, photo, video later at your convenience (yes-this is also cloud computing).  So with thee services, you establish an account, meaning you have to have a username & password and that allows you to access "your account" and whatever you've saved... 

Many of these services are free (including my 2 personal favorites) but some are not - but they all allow us to  manage articles and other media that we want to access later...  Apps for these services can be downloaded to your computer, tablet or other mobile device and they are very very easy to use..... 

If you have a Pinterest or Twitter account they also offer this service and Facebook will offer it very soon....

I've been playing with 2 different services and really like them both - and yes, both are free

Evernote is my personal top choice abs quite honestly the one I now use daily, because I can store anything I want to remember including quick reminder notes (my family and associates will tell you I'm a constant list maker so this is great for me), but I can save anything I want to view or read later.. www.evernote.com

Pocket (formerly known as Read it Later) is my 2nd favorite and worked wonderfully.... www.getpocket.com

Others you may want to check out...

Instapaper, website is:  www.instapaper.com - Free and paid versions

SnipIt, website is: www.snip.it/#welcome - Free 

Side note... For those of you with tablets and other "Android based devices" some of my students in Arizona are loving this new free app - called "CRACKLE" which is a totally legitimate app offering free streaming of TV shows and movies.  I found that it doesn't have all TV shows, but there are lots of old favorites and some of the new ones as well; same goes for movies...  But again, it's free so a great way to play with "streaming" before you move on to one of the paid services, such as Netflick or HBO... so you might want to give it a try... I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the picture... 

Update-heard from several "Apple/Mac" users and I was wrong - Crackle has been available for  "i" devices for quite a while now... so enjoy everyone.....

Check it out: www.crackle.com

Cloud Computing & Music

This is a note I received from Bob Donovan (a wonderful Instructor on our Team in Boston who loves his music) who applauds using Cloud Computing for all of his music...  

"My music is stored in iTunes on my computer. But I've also put it up in Amazon's music cloud (basically because of the Kindle that I own).  

Currently I have 50,595 songs in the cloud. On my computer these songs take up 224 GB. I'm paying Amazon $24.99 per year for this storage. So far, I'm really pleased with it. It's not as simple or beautiful as iTunes, but it works great and I don't think there's any limit.

Naturally, I normally have to use the search function to find an artist or song or album and that seems to work fine online.  

I also downloaded Amazon's picture storage app, but haven't tried to use it yet-will keep you posted"  

Once you pay for an "app" you can download that app to multiple devices, such as your smartphone - kindle - tablet - etc...How does it know, because Amazon (like other companies) stores the information in your Amazon Account. 

To check these "apps" out, or all that Amazon offers, here is the link to the Amazon App Store for Androids...(or you can just go to www.Amazon.com)  

http://www.amazon.com/mobile-apps/b?ie=UTF8&node=2350149011

Cloud Computing - Continued Discussion

Several times earlier this year (in Feb. & May) we discussed Cloud Computing, but things are changing and there are more and more companies offering us the ability to store on their clouds (which means on their servers) So- the discussion continues...

There is no doubt that cloud computing is here to stay.  Many of us have been using "cloud computing" for years without realizing it - If you use a hotmail, yahoo, AOL or Gmail account" for your emails, you go to the specific company's website, via the internet, enter your user name & password (from any computer in the world) and your email messages appear. You can then write/compose new emails - all the while the computer you are sitting at, is simply a vehicle allowing us to see and type - but all of our emails are actually being stored and/or written on/from their computers....hence "cloud computing"

Today many of these same email vendors are providing us with additional free space, so that in addition to our emails we can also store our documents, photos, movies & music in another part of our "email account" - like having an additional file cabinet...  Why would we do that?

Well, like your emails, you can access any of these items stored on their "cloud" when you are away from your computer (home or work) because remember it's stored on their computer - in their cloud...

If you have multiple devices - you may want to "sync" them, so that when you enter information on one device, it appears on all your devices...   

For example:

You have a Windows based computer, a Smartphone & a tablet - if you have a Gmail account and use the Google Drive Cloud - whatever is entered in these on one computer shows up on the rest

Or You have an iPhone, iPad and MacBook - by simply having an iCloud ID and password (and the iCloud ID can be your existing email address w/hotmail, Gmail, etc..) you can select in the settings of your iCloud what you want to share among your devices-Photos, emails, contacts, calendars, etc..

Or maybe you have a Windows PC, an Android Smartphone and a MacBook - you could simply choose to have the Apple iCloud on all your devices to share your music, data & moves...

And the combination goes on and one..

If you have been using hotmail/live/msn accounts - you have "SkyDrive" which is their free cloud computing for us to store data and photos - but anyone can go to SkyDrive.com and download the app and receive a certain amount of storage for FREE - Gmail users have the free Picasa Web Albums and Google Drive cloud; and again anyone can use this or Apple/MAC's iCloud or any of the other hundreds of companies... most allow some free storage - others charge an annual or monthly fee - some based on the amount of storage, some are by computer - it varies..

Shop around and remember you can use multiple "cloud services"; I know some people who store all their music in iTunes synced with the iCloud; and use their SkyDrive for their documents; maybe DropBox for their data from work; Google Drive w/Picasa Web Albums for their photos and Carbonite, so everything is backed up every time they are on the computer (no limit) but this service doesn't allow you to use a syncing feature (yet)!

The list of companies offering cloud computing is growing every day.  Each has their own features, it depends on what you are looking for... I always think it's better to begin with the FREE services while you learn, and once you've mastered that and understand what it is you are using, then you can always switch to or add another service if needed...Here is the link to an article recently published about some of the popular "cloud computing companies" -

http://www.consumer-rankings.com/online-backup

What is Windows 8, Windows RT & Microsoft Surface???

MICROSOFT WINDOWS 8 - Microsoft 8 is Microsoft's newest operating system which was released last Friday, October 26th...Designed with increased security, reliability and performance improvement.  Windows 8 is designed with touch screen tablets in mind, first thing you'll notice a very different start screen with "tiles" for your applications, instead of icons...and the tiles light up when new info (emails, photos etc) are available to keep you up to date.. It offers "picture passwords"; ability to go from full-screen video to your spreadsheets in one swipe, or snap them side-by-side for easy multi-tasking. Find and access files much more quickly; instant searches from any app you're in and open favorite programs in lightning speed!! Just a few of the many new features and Microsoft states on their website, that Windows 8 can be purchased and downloaded to any computer currently running Windows XP, Vista or 7.. although others don’t agree at all, unless you have a Windows 7 computer bought in the last few months..

MICROSOFT WINDOWS RT - Available as Oct. 26th, 2012 on one version of the new Microsoft Surface Tablet.. This is an operating system (formerly known as Windows on ARM*) - ARM is not acronym….  Windows RT is a version of the Windows 8 operating system for ARM devices* such as tablet and the Microsoft Surface that was released on October 26, 2012. Unlike other Windows operating systems, it will only be able to run software that has been certified by Microsoft and placed in the Windows Store. Windows RT will include additional applications such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote 2013 RT.

*ARM is designed for low-power applications because it's a less complicated microprocessor... These microprocessors are found primarily in phones, calculators and other hand held devices where less calls are made to memory so they quickly and efficiently. Windows has ARM in the Operating Systems for hand-held devices for sometime now....

The public can't purchase Microsoft Windows RT, it will be sold strictly to device manufacturers directly and is going to be used primarily for Microsoft's new tablet computer called Microsoft Surface that will be available in two versions: one will run with Windows RT system, and the other tablet computer will run with Windows 8..  Windows RT doesn't include Windows Media Player, but for free, will include Office 2012 Home & Student RT.  Those of us buying systems with Windows 8 will still have to purchase and install Office separately.  Also Windows RT will only run  applications that have been included in Microsoft's App store, on apps receiving Microsoft certification.. To most, this sounds a lot like the Mac Apple world of Apple products only... where Microsoft and Apple will both restrict what applications are available to their consumers...

MICROSOFT'S SURFACE.. Microsoft Surface Microsoft Surface is a series of tablets designed and marketed by Microsoft, the first version which includes Microsoft Windows RT became available October 26th, 2012.  The Microsoft Surface will be available in two versions, the first became available October 26th with Windows RT (price range $499-$699).  The newer Surface Windows 8 Pro 2, is still not available, but some say cost start about $899+. The Windows RT model will use an *ARM CPU, while the Windows 8 model will use an Intel CPU.  Both models will be able to install new applications via the Windows Store, however only the Windows 8 model allows the installation of traditional desktop programs

*So consider holding off getting one of the new Microsoft Surface Tablets with Windows RT – some suspect that what we create on them (using the Office Home & Student RT version) might not be compatible with other systems, so give it some time to get the kinks worked out..Windows

A Kindle or a Nook or an iPad or a Tablet?? Oh My!!! Part 2 of 2

Continued from Wednesday, March 28th, 2012…

Then of course there’s the question – is an e-reader enough or should I spend the extra money and invest in a tablet and if so should I get an iPad or a tablet??? Tough choices for sure…

Differences between an iPad or one of the many Android Tablets…
1. The iPad is a single product, Android tablets are a common name for a variety of products
2. The iPad runs on the MAC iOS; Android tablet run on Android based system
3. The iPad lacks flash while Android tablets have it
4. The iPad doesn’t have true multi-tasking; Android tablets do
5. The iPad has more apps than Android tablets – but both are increasing their numbers daily
According to an independent survey done by cnet.com, their recommendations are as follows in these major categories… so happy shopping… and remember as always with technology – do your homework first and set your budget next…

Best basic e-book reader: Amazon Kindle ($79, no touch screen), Amazon Kindle Touch ($99 to $189, with touch-screen), Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch ($99, touch-screen),

Best reading tablet for under $200: Amazon Kindle Fire, Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet

Best all-around full-featured reading tablets: Apple iPad (third-gen), Apple iPad 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 or the new Samsung Galaxy 8.9

A Kindle or a Nook or an iPad or a Tablet?? Oh My!!! Part 1 of 2

Every where we go, someone is using an e-book reader, iPad or Tablet. Yes, whether you are on a train, plane, bus or automobile; or walking down the street or sitting in a lobby – to many, the days of fumbling with newspapers and sneakily removing recipes & coupons from the doctors office are long gone… Today with many of these devices you can do all of this and surf the web and much more…

But how do you decide which is best for your needs.. 

Yes, it’s true – Amazon’s Kindle was the first, but it didn’t take long for Barnes & Noble to introduce their Nook, and of course we are all familiar with Apples iPads, and then of course other manufacturer’s are introducing their own, including Sony’s Reader Wi-Fi, Kobo Reader and many Android manufacturers which are a step up from the SmartPhones and just below (according to some) a tablet, such as the popular Samsung Galaxy Tablet… Sure can get confusion…

As with all technology, it’s all about the options – what do you plan to use the device for – just reading books and magazines, or do you want to be able to store and listen to music, what about taking and storing photo’s, streaming videos like youtube, hulu or netflix, and surfing the web… so many choices – so many options.. And for most, just as importantly, should be that you establish & stick to a budget before you head to the mall..

Yes, prices are coming down daily and surprisingly as the prices drop, the list of features grow with each new model – the result obviously of competition….

• Basic Black & White e-reader: Prices range from $80 to $150
• Color e-reader with a 7” color screen from $400-$300
• Full Size, multi-feature, color tablet (like the iPad2 or “new iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tablet ) where screen choices used to be 7” or 10”, but that’s changing and prices are $200 to $800+

Continued Part 2 of 2 on Saturday March 31st, 2012