Task 23 - The end

I am glad I got to be apart of 23 Things. Learnt new tools and will continue using some of them.

My main complaint about 23 Things was the currency of the information and the activities which contained many dead links like the podcast activity.

This training activity because of the nature of its content must be updated prior to a new group going through. It is just like a social networking site you must maintain it or it goes rubbish.

Cheers

Librarian Blues

Task 22 - Facebook and Myspace

I have an account with Facebook and use it maybe once or twice a week. It has been very helpful to find friends from uni and high school days. I am not really sure how I can use it to find new friends or network with people in other libraries. I think Facebook could be useful in a work context once I had met another librarian at a conference or training session, this way I could keep in touch.

These social networking sites however are a bit too much like gardening. Once you set up your garden you have to keep maintaining it or it becomes over grown and full of weeds.

A friend of mine has a band that has a myspace account and it seems like a great place with a nice format to advertise the band. Check it LeSuits

Librarian Blues

Task 20 - Podcasts

Well this would have been an interesting activity if the links actually worked.

I have been using Itunes with my Ipod touch to download podcasts and vodcasts. It works really well.

I liked the intro to making your own podcasts found here as it uses all freely available software like audacity and lame mp3 converter.

Here is a vodcast rss sub that I like from English Heritage

Cheers

Librarian Blues

Task 19 - Youtube

Yep definitely like the old tube. If only there was a way to save these recordings hmmm, oh well. Great to be able to watch all those old Michael Jackson film clips.




I have also found it useful when attempting to communicate and understand concepts relating to trumpet playing. Here is another great clip:

Task 21 - Twitter

I finally twittered and I can see the instant nature of its demise. Currently following a trumpet teacher and trying to get his pearls of wisdom in 140 characters or less. This is less than a standard SMS at 160 characters.

News article from ABC.

Most twits won't tweet twice: study

Hmmm I don't think this tool is really going to help me in my work. Email and if it was even possible instant chat MSN might be better for the work environment no limit to the number of characters.

Cheers

Librarian Blues

Task 18 - IGoogle

A very quick and easy way of developing a home page for things you like to use.

Google really has got this sorted out and made it somewhat attractive.

The only thing holding me back from using it as my home page privately and at work is the need to log into my google account. Which in its self is not a big issue but when I open my browser I generally just want to start searching straight away without the extra bother of logging in.

Cheers

Librarian Blues

Task 17 - Google Maps and Docs

Google Maps - love it. The hybrid, satellite, terrain versions excellent. I used it recently to find the driving directions to Gayndah for a band road trip. I would certainly recommend this tool.

Odd things though happens at the street level view with the address markings not actually matching up precisely with what you are look at.

It is great to see the satellite maps of the suburbs and it is interesting to see how long it takes Google to update the pictures. My neighbours put in a pool about 6 months ago but it still has not appeared I wonder how long it takes to be updated?


Goolge Docs big fan. I use Google Docs save details about my band in regards to rehearsal times, gigs and locations. I then use the publish option to get a link to make it available to all the member of the band. There is also an Ipod Touch app to read Google Docs offline. The app still needs some work but generally does the job. The app is called MightyDocs.

Cheers

Librarian Blues