Tech Tools Helpdesk

2009 New Year's Resolutions

2008-12-31T12:55:00.001-08:00

Krista Smith's Content Producer Page - Associated Content

http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/403552/krista_smith.html

3 X 3 ='s Dexrex (9...lolz)

2008-11-14T16:32:00.000-08:00

My ninth tech tool is

Dexrex is a free add on for instant messengers. It can be used via Windows, Mac Os, or even on your mobile phone!

It supports these instant messenger clients:

- Aim
- Aim Lite
- Aim Pro
- ICQ
- Windows Live Messenger
- Yahoo! Messenger
- Skype
- Pidgin*
- Trillian*
- Digsby*
- Miranda*

- QIP

* Compatible with supported network

You have to download the dexrex plug in after signing in with your screen name on the home page. These extentions are what make dexrex useful. It keeps your conversations memorized, and tracks recent im activity. I downloaded it for myself. I have Trillian instant messenger because AIM itself takes up too much memory on my computer. It works great with my AIM name on Trillian.

Here are a couple of links with more information on Dexrex:

http://blog.dexrex.com/

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3301219756332555535

And here is the link to Dexrex's site:

https://www.dexrex.com/MemberHome

Numero Ocho #8- PDFescape

2008-10-24T13:07:00.001-07:00

The Eighth tech tool I will be talking about is

PDFescape is an online tech tool that allows you to create PDF files without having to download anything or having to pay a single cent. It is also an editor, form filler, and form designer. It is the only free PDF editor tool online. There is no registration required! All you do is create PDF files with no hassle! And I am a fan of no hassle. Hassle is what stresses me out 90% of my life. Haha.

With PDF escape, you can:

Create PDF files
Add text
Add graphics
Add links
Add new form fields to an existing PDF file
Much more!

PDF escape is based on the functionality original that is found in CTdeveloping's PDFtypewriter. There are also webmaster tools for people who need to use this tool for their websites, and it is just overall very handy. I have a deviant ART account, and in order to post my writings on the site, I have to convert them to PDF format, or the site will not upload them. PDF escape is just what I need to do this. Great tool!

Here are some links to more information about PDFescape:

http://www.appscout.com/2008/02/pdfescape_free_easy_webbased_p.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pdfescape

Here is the website for PDFescape:

http://www.pdfescape.com/

Tool Number 7 - Planypus

2008-10-19T17:15:00.001-07:00

The seventh tech tool on my list of to dos' is

Planypus is an online tool that is meant to keep friends informed on what each other is up to. There are a few different features of Planypus that would be helpful in keeping your friends up to date on what's going on in your world. You have to join to be able to use the tool, but it is free.

Your friends dont have to join
You can use the planspace as a wiki
You can talk using live comments
Vote on dates, locations, and polls
You can even use this on your mobile phone

Once you join the service, you can sign in and use the different features.

On the homepage, there is a button that says Start Making Plans. You click this, and it will take you to a planner-like set up page. There is a calendar in the right hand column. On the left hand margin, there are a couple of options to get you started. You can take the tour to learn how to use Planypus, and you can Create A New Plan.

There is a tab next to the plan making tab that says, My City. Clicking on this tab will pull up a page of events that are occurring in your location. There is also a weather forecast chart at the top of the page, so you know if you need your umbrella, your boots, or just yourself.

Then there is a tab called Friends. You must be signed in to be able to view the page under this tab. Basically, it is just the friends you plan on contacting about the latest happenings and future plans.

Here are some more links to provide more information about Planypus:

http://www.killertechtips.com/2008/10/17/best-online-event-planner-review/

http://mashable.com/2006/11/03/planypus-to-launch-social-site-for-event-planning/

The official site is http://planyp.us/

#6-Fontstruct

2008-10-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

The sixth tech tool I will be talking about is .

Fontstruct is a tool that allows you to download existing fonts, and also create and download your own custom fonts. It is completely free. The home page shows examples of fonts that were created by other people, and there is a learn more section called Learn More. This tells you how the tool was developed and why. There is a Start Now section too. Upon clicking this, you will be taken to a sign in screen. You must create an account with Fontstruct in order to do anything on the site. Once you sign up, you will come to another screen that notifies you of an email you will recieve, in order to finish your registration. In this email, there will be a link you must click upon to verify your sign up. It takes you to a screen that says you have successfully created an account with them. After that, all you have to do is sign in. Once you sign in, it will take you to your account page. You can Create New Fontstruction, or edit your profile. There is a gallery of fonts that are created by other people and you have the option of viewing them and downloading them. There is also a Create Fontstruction Tab, and this allows you to name your font and then create it. There are also News and FAQ tabs to help you with questions you may have, or tell you about any updates to the site that may have occurred.

Here is a font that I created on the site:

http://fontstruct.fontshop.com/fontstructions/show/krista_1

And here are a couple other sites that might be helpful and informational about Fontstruct:

http://www.vimeo.com/972905?pg=embed&sec=972905

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/fontstruct_font_maker.php

Here is the link to the Fontstruct site:

http://fontstruct.fontshop.com/

Here Comes Five! - Scheduleonce.com

2008-10-04T19:38:00.001-07:00

This week's blog is all about the tech tool,

Scheduleonce.com is a web 2.0 tool that is used to set up important meetings between clients all over the world. Client 1 could be in New York City, and Client 2 could be in Paris, France. With this great tech tool, they can still schedule an online meeting that is convenient for both clients, even with their different time zones. Here are some of the features that makes Scheduleonce a good choice when it comes to meetings:

You can easilly schedule meetings, conference calls, etc.
No registration is required
Completely web-based
FREE!

How to get started:

Take a quick tour

Watch the introduction video

There are also NEWS and FAQ sections for updates and information concerning Scheduleonce.com. There are developer solutions and the option to get a private edition of Scheduleonce.

At the bottom of the homepage, there is a "Start Here" section that asks "How would you like to start your meeting?"

You can:

Offer a single time -Verify the time zone/Add attendee time zones/Send the selected time/If you need help, there is a tutorial video on how to offer a single time.

Offer alternative times - Enter your meeting name/Enter your time zone/Enter the timeframe in which the meeting will take place/Enter suggested alternative times for the meeting/Choose who suggests the times, provide an email address and save the meeting/If you need help, there is a tutorial video on how to offer alternative times.

Scheduleonce is very helpful if you need to schedule your meetings with people online. I recommend it for those who need to schedule meetings with people across the world.

Here are a couple more websites for more information about Scheduleonce:

http://www.killerstartups.com/Web20/scheduleonce-com-schedule-meetings-across-time-zones

http://www.allthingsweb2.com/mtree/CALENDAR_2.0/ScheduleOnce/details/

The Big 4 - Italki

2008-09-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

My fourth tech tool is

Italki is a website where you can learn another language, and have more fun learning it than the traditional classroom setting. It includes a number of features:

Finding a language partner

Answering questions in the language you are trying to learn

User created web pages that help you learn a second language

You can browse files of people who are learning the same thing as you

There is a resource section to assist you in learning this new language, whatever it may be

There are member groups on the site for all of the different languages. You can be in a group with people who are learning the same language as you, and you can help each other along.

There is also a language index, which contains all of the different languages that can be learned through Italki.

I just created an account with Italki today. I am wanting to have some extra practice with Spanish, since I am taking Spanish 101 currently. I think it will be a great way to sharpen my knowledge of the Spanish language, as well as comprehend it better than I do now.

Italki.com is good if you want to talk to someone who does not speak English, or just want to learn another language. Here are a couple of links to some resources regarding Italki to provide more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italki.com

http://www.crunchbase.com/company/italki

Numero Tres: Skype

2008-09-18T18:08:00.000-07:00

My third tech tool is

Skype is a way to keep in over the computer by talking on headsets. Now it is also used with cellphones to call any cellphone or land line. You can be any distance away from each other, and still talk via headset/cellphone-land line/cellphone/PC for almost nothing. Here are some interesting Facts about what makes Skype cool:

Costs:

International calls start at 2.1 cents per minute
You save money on calls to international cell phones
Call rate stays the same, regardless of the day or time of day
Calls Skype to Skype via PC are absolutely free.

You can call landlines and cell phones locally, nationally, and internationally for a better rate than going through a main phone line by calling with Skype. And call any PC of any friend that you want who also has Skype. You can call a computer in Japan, and not pay one cent. AWESOME! I dunno about you, but I love not having to pay for things.....lol.

There are two ways to pay for your Skype cellular to cellular/PC/land line service:

Monthly Subscriptions, including unlimited calls to some countries and regions

Pay As You Go, which allows you to pre pay an amount of credit(s) to your account and then you can make calls and pay again when you run short on credits.

How widespread is Skype's calling service?

Skype reaches to over 35 countries worldwide.

You may ask, "Are my calls secure?"

The answer to that question my friends, is yes. Skype calls are secure; this means your calls are your buisness.

I tried Skype a while ago when one of my friends had it. My friend goes to school in Williamsport, PA, and we were talking via headset (Skype to Skype) on our computers one night my sophomore year here at Edinboro. It was fun. However, as time went on, I deleted Skype because I didn't use it any other time besides the one night when I talked with my friend from Penn Tech. So, I didn't really need to keep it on my computer. I rely mostly on messengers when I talk to people online, but I think Skype was a pretty cool little invention for easier calling. I think it is cool that it is possible to get a hold of even the most hard to reach people anymore. Being out of reach will be obsolete eventually....Maybe tomorrow.... Who knows? Either way, everyone will be able to get a hold of everyone someday. It starts with great communication services such as Skype and various instant messengers, and cellphone providers. For more information on why Skype is a great tech tool, here are a couple more references:

http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/callphones/?cm_mmc=affiliate-_-commission_junction-_-text-_-skypeout_pid%3D1413356

http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/

Tech Tool Two: Yahoo

2008-09-08T12:37:00.001-07:00

Yahoo.com is a site that is used for many things, just like Myspace. However, it is more formally set up then Myspace is. You really don't go to Yahoo to make friends, or post bulletins. Yahoo is used mostly for the following purposes:

News-World, Local, Finance, Featured, Entertainment, Sports, Video
Marketplace
Pulse-Yahoo Videos-For general entertainment
Personals Section-Dating
Featured Services Section-Downloads(Including the ever popular desktop Widgets), Health information, Kids, GeoCities, and Mail Plus
Small Buisness Section- Get A Website, Domain Names, Sell Online, and Search Ads
Sponsor Ads
Email
Radio
Horoscopes
Weather
Games
Mobile Web
Movies/TV
Music
OMG(Yes that is what it's called....haha)
Real Estate
Shine
Travel
Yellow Pages
Y! International
Stock Market Quotes
much more!

Yahoo also has an Instant Messenger protocal, Yahoo Instant Messenger, so people with Yahoo.com email accounts can send each other instant messages as well as keep in touch by email. I have yahoo mail and instant messenger, and a few of my friends do as well. It's easy on computer space, and doesn't slow down the speed of the computer. AIM gives me problems with that. Takes up a lot of memory. I use a protocol by the name of Pidgin that I can use to IM all of my AIM buddies to save computer memory. Anyway, Yahoo messenger is a fun program to use when keeping in touch with your friends! Yahoo messenger has a few features such as:

PC to PC calling via headset absolutely free
BUZZing your buddy when they havent answered for a bit
Music
Webcam accessibility
Easy photo sharing
Easy video sharing
Easy file sharing
Games that you can play against your IM buddy
Extra security against intruders including "block buddy" to keep certian people from bothering you when you are online.
Changeable skins so you can customize your own buddly list's look.
and a few more!

I have come to find Yahoo very useful since I signed up. And that's another thing! It is absolutely free of charge to join! And it is so easy! You can create an account in less than five minutes!

If you want more answers about what Yahoo has to offer, here are a couple of informational sites that should explain everything:

http://developer.yahoo.com/faq/

http://www.hoovers.com/Yahoo!/--ID__48043--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml?cm_ven=PAID&cm_cat=GGL&cm_pla=HST&cm_ite=yahoo_history

Tech Tools 101

2008-09-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

This is my first Tech Tools blog. I am going to be writing about the tech tool, Myspace and it's uses. Myspace is very helpful with keeping in touch with those around you, or those who aren't around you. Myspace has been around for a few years now, and it is a huge cyber community where people can message each other, send comments, post videos and photos, and join social networks. Myspace's features include:

Blogging and blog commenting

A wall on every profile for people to leave comments on

Photo albums and video albums

Current status postings

Bulletin postings

Messages that are personal between you and the person you wrote to

Privacy options

Networking

Groups

Music and music videos

TV show listings and video clips

Friend Updates

A top friends box so you can contact your closest friends easier

Games

Much more!

Myspace is a place for friends and family to keep each other updated on what is going on in their everyday life, to chill out and play games, to have something do do in between classes perhaps, and is a very convenient service. Free of charge. I enjoy having my myspace, and being able to control my settings, and who sees what. The privacy feature is why I don't think Myspace is dangerous to use. If you use your settings wisely, then you should not be able to be preditated on any site. All of the headlines in the news about myspace being this huge online monster are perposterous in my opinion. I have never had a problem on there with anyone. If you don't want people you don't know sending you messages or bothering you, set your privacy settings to friends only and make sure you also make it difficult for unknown people to try and add you as a friend too. All you have to do is require that they know your email address or your last name, and I guarantee they won't. And if you don't want random people looking at your profile or blogs, you can set those to friends only as well. And even if random people come up on your profile, the most they will see is your picture. Other than that, they won't be able to view other photos, your personal info, your friends, or anything you don't want them to. This is what I like about myspace the most. I feel completely comfortable on myspace.

With Myspace, boredome is never a problem. I will get further into that later though.

Thanks for reading!!!

Krista

Here are a few more websites that can tell you all about myspace and it's vast amount of features:

http://www.boutell.com/newfaq/sitespecific/whymyspace.html

http://websearch.about.com/od/myspace/a/myspacequestion.htm