Archive for TechTips

My New Google Reader

May 9, 2013 Just Jen's Thoughts, TechTips

I was a bit disappointed (understatement of the year) when Google decided to cancel Reader.

But as always, you realize nothing on the internet is permanent anymore (except your pictures, tweets, facebook status, etc) — okay no “free” tool is permanent any more — and so I started looking for options.

I tried all the ones that everyone was shouting about but they just really were not working the way I wanted them to work.  Especially in needing to log onto my google account in order to get the app to work.  (I might be weird but I just don’t like tying everything together…..I do compartmentalize things…..and am content.)

So, as I was browsing through the RSS search on my ipad I saw an app called BookShelf II and decided to give it a spin.

And after 3 weeks — I am very very happy — so I thought I would share it with you.

Quick Disclaimer:  It is rated 12+ but I have yet to have any problems with anything – and it does have in-app purchases but I have not had anything solicit me yet.  But when you go to the itunes app site, the left side about “what it offers” is a bit more adult than the G rating I usually share….so I am not linking to it here.  You can do a search on your app store for this app.

Here is a screen shot:

blogshelfIf you  have it landscape you see 8 blogs per page,
portrait you see 9)

You will notice that at the top right corner of several of the blogs is a RED triangle.  If that is BRIGHT RED there is a new posting, if it is light red, you have unread blogs, if it had no triangle, you are all caught up.

To subscribe to blogs, you go to the top left corner and click on SUBSCRIBE.  There are featured blogs (this is where the 12+ comes in) but I jump right over to the SEARCH Option and type in the address of the blog I wish to follow.  It searches for the blog and then confirms you wish to subscribe.

There are other options for subscribing, but I tend to just use the SEARCH option.

When I am done subscribing, I click back on bookshelf and I am back to the main screen (or screens based on how many blogs you are subscribing to.)

  • The Curved Arrow on the top right reloads your list just in case you feel you might be missing something.
  • The magnifying glass allows you to search articles for keywords, etc.
  • The heart allows you to favorite blogposts.
  • The question mark highlights certain areas of blogshelf and then shares what that tool does.

When you are reading a blog post — you have several options as well.

  • The A button lets you set font size, a theme, the font you wish, text alignments, and brightness of screen.
  • The share out button allows you to send to email, tweet, facebook, pocket, instrapaper)
  • The heart button allows you to “Favorite” this post.
  • The 3 lines allows you to thumbnail the blog posts so you can see more than 1 at a time.
  • And the question mark highlights certain areas of the post and then shares what that tool does.

One other nice feature….
If push on the title of the blog post — it will
a.  Take you to the original website.
b.  Copy the blog post
c.  Email the link
d.  More

Since I don’t subscribe to a huge number of blogs, so this is truly working for me.

I have been using it now for 3 weeks (free version)
…..and I see no need to upgrade to the paid version.

If you are using blogshelf — please share your thoughts.
If you are using another option — please feel free to share your thoughts as well.

Jen

PS:  And yes, for those of you who noticed, I do subscribe to my own blog.  It is important to me to make sure it looks nice for others to read on their devices.

PSS:  One more thing:  if the blog has a picture in it, blogshelf will display the picture with the blog post.  If the blog does not have a picture, it defaults to a solid background.  Hence, I am starting to add pictures to my blog posts!  :)

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Jen’s New Favorite Thing

January 4, 2012 TechTips

Pinterest
http://pinterest.com/

Every so often something flashes by through email or twitter – and I take note, but file it to the back-burner for a while until there is time to play.

Which is exactly what I did with Pinterest…….and NOW, I have to share it with you.

Picture it as your Refrigerator Door.   Where you keep all your notices, family pictures, reminders, etc.   A snapshot of your life – if I might be so bold.

And that is what Pinterest is – a snapshot of your “Web” life.

(You need to be invited to join – so if you want, drop me an email and I will pass out invites until mine are gone!)

You need to create an account to be able to use Pinterest and it will walk you through all the options ONCE you are logged on.

I do SUGGEST that you attach the pinterest toolbar icon to your browser toolbar (just drag and drop) and I do SUGGEST that you DO NOT let Pinterest post every time you “Pin” an item…..(you can toggle this option off – but you have to do it each time!)

Before I continue – let me show you a few options of what you can do with Pinterest.

Here is my project board:  http://pinterest.com/projectsbyjen/projects-by-jen/
Here is an example of school ideas:  http://pinterest.com/mrstewart/school-ideas/
Here is an example of teaching ideas:   http://pinterest.com/allywehn/teaching-ideas/

Now you have seen some boards – this is how it works.

As you journey through the web, you might see am IMAGE that sparks your interest.   You click on the little icon on your toolbar and up pops a window with ALL the images pinterest has found on that page.   As you hover over each image, the word PIN will appear…..click on the image you with to “pin”, add it to your board, and write up a tiny description and tada – you are done.   (and pinterest automatically puts a link at the bottom of the image so you can remember where you found it!)

You can make different boards with different topics…..and you also can wander through other people’s boards to get ideas OR repin their images to your boards as well.

It can become a bit addicting but also a great option for saving and sharing resources.  You can also use it for your students to use as weblinks to sites you wish them to check out or to use for projects/bookreports/papers/etc.

One other nice aspect is that you can comment on “pins” or like them.   If you visit:  http://pinterest.com/ProjectsByJen/daily-wordles/  you will see that 7 people repined James and the Giant Peach.  If I click on that pin, I will see who repined it and I can go visit their boards as well.

It becomes a very easy way of sharing information and you can either keep your boards secure (where only you can add pins) or you can open it up for others.

It is a keeper and I hope you enjoy the options.   And if you make a board, please share it with me!!

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(This TechTip was included in the January 2012 edition of the Projects By Jen newsletter!)

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