Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers
via scribd.com
A great guide and list of great tools for all working with education to use in classrooms, with students or for self-management.
Start your web 2.0 life - a guide for the noob teacher
I ran into a wonderful website this morning when doing my daily Interweb hoovering for new e-learning apps. It is basically a web based course for teachers who want to learn more about web 2.0 and social media. Follow the steps, register at the major web 2.0 services and learn more on how to use them. While it is said to be for teachers specifically I would recommend this for everyone who wants to be a part of or learn more about what's hot on the Internet scene at the moment. If you are new to this, follow each step, if you already know your way around these services, double check in case you have missed one.
SpicyNodes - cool presentation tool
I have just discovered a new tool for presentations and I am quite impressed by it. SpicyNodes, a tool that lets you easily create mind-maps and presentations to embed or share on any website. It's slick, easy and useful. However I get the feeling that it is discontinued since it still have a couple of flaws that need to be ironed out. A shame and I hope I am wrong.
Click Full screen to get a better view.
Five Google services and websites you didn't know existed
Google RomanceI have never heard about it until today. What is it? Google goes dating? Is it even for real? I don't know...do you?
So want to start making your way into the food market, yes? Okay... And, is this also for real? I don't know...do you?
Wow, where do I apply?
Now, PageRank I have heard about, but PigeonRank? Oh...there are pigeons! Cute!
Search faster with this new search feature!
((tag:Google))
Voddler - a first look
After registering you get to download a desktop client. This client fills your entire screen and there seems to be no way of having it windowed why I can't take any nifty screenshots. Secondly the client can only be controlled by using keyboard, which is a bit annoying. I so want to use my mouse to point at links, but no. In order to start the client you need to have a little program running in the background which apparently keeps you logged in. If you close this, you won't be able to login with your client.
The client itself is ugly as pie and controlling it with your keyboard arrows, is a bit of a hustle. The menu is set at the top of the screen and from here you can access categories and genres. Once you have found a movie of your liking, click play and off you go. The movie instantly starts and fills your screen and that's the way you need to watch it. No option of controlling window size apart from the Settings menu where you can customize the video size-wise. But only the video size, not the window. This is a bit dodgy and I suggest you leave this alone.
So, what about the movies then? Well, it can't be compared to Spotify in any way. At the moment you have no more than let's say, 50-60 movies to chose from and they all are pretty much playing in the b-movie category. Not too long ago Swedish newspapers discovered that Voddler actually didn't have any contracts and deals made with the movie companies which was quite strange. Especially when bearing in mind that they are hoping for a public release before Christmas. Not to worry, Voddler says. Sorry, guys, I do worry. Promising something that you might have to take back would be quite bad for you. If you don't close those deals soon, you won't have much to offer, it's as simple as that.
But if you get your kicks from watching movies like "Day of the dead" and "The Crow" you will probably find more interesting titles. I found the French excellent scare "Martyrs" and enjoyed watching it again on my little 19 incher and there are a couple of more quality movies to watch. As far as video and audio quality I would say it's okay. It's okay to watch on a computer screen and with desktop speakers (good ones). I haven't tried it on a tv set yet, but I would think it's not enough. I tried it on my netbook as well and it was choppy but it worked, which is good.
Final conclusion would be that Voddler is aiming high but they are far from "there". Despite this being a beta version, they would have a lot to work on before they can go public. I can forgive them for ugly UI and the keyboard controlling, but I wouldn't forgive them for having a library of crappy b-movies. If they want to survive, and enjoy future comparisons with Spotify, they need to extend that library with quality titles. If not, it will be a fail.
About Me
Jazzper IsakssonGreetings!
Welcome to Jazzperous, the personal blog of Mr Jesper Isaksson. I am mostly writing about technology, web 2.0 and social media but also a great deal of things that grind my gear at the moment. Lately is has been a lot about religion, atheism and humanism.
Check out my social links: http://flavors.me/jazzper
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Jesper Isaksson
