Web browsers

Web browsers are not something I've really looked into in detail before although I do use Firefox at home and have now started to use it in preference at work, although there are some things where I have to use IE, eg. our Microsft training program. I prefer Firefox as it is more secure and seems to have less problems. i also like the tab feature although IE7 uses them too. Have had a look at the add-ons, which I haven't gone into at all up to now, although i know its a major feature of Firefox. Have added on the ReminderFox feature as I figure i can do with any reminding I can get!! I was amazed at the Reference Collection - that would be great for a student and possibly a Reference desk at a smaller library where you get asked all sorts of everything.
Had a look at Google Chrome - just the feature page...haven't actually downloaded it. I liked the look of it actually - clear and clean, particularly the icons. Skimmed through the comic book explaining it all and thought the mulitple processing idea excellent - must make it much faster to load.

Podcasts

I really like the idea of podcasts although funnily enough I haven't used them much. However it was good doing this exercise and finding all the directories that list them. The Learn Out Loud one looked great, particularly for learning a language. I like the ABC directory....clearly set out, its Australian...and some interesting topics. Another favourite is Words of Peace...has little snippets of talks by Prem Rawat on the subject of peace...brings everything into perspective! I also really liked the Walking in West End podcast on the SLQ website...a brilliant way to get an audio tour as you're exploring the area. The obvious use of podcasts for libraries is using it in a similar way...as an audio tour. You could also have talks about the collections or special events. To give a NZ flavour...there are quite a few podcasts teaching the Maori language. Here's a lovely one 'Te Kakano' which includes a beautiful waiata 'Te kokako' sung by Hirini Melbourne....you can also click on the video below it to see the words.

Mashups

Well am getting rather behind as usual so thought I'd better get onto it!!! Mashups, funnily enough, don't really do a lot for me.....I find them mostly a bit annoying....especially the ones that don't work properly, and there seem to be a lot of those!! (maybe its just me?? :( ) For instance I tried looking at the mashup on windfarms in NZ as I thought it would be a good one to add to this blog but no.....oouldn't get it to display properly. Still they look quite fun to create so might try that if I get time....could have a map with all my favourite places in NZ on it and put it on this blog...or..bore everyone silly with a map of where we went on our wonderful one & only overseas trip!
Have been looking at the Mashup awards and not over the moon - went back a few months and found Twash which is quite fun....its yet another one about Twitter but gives you the tweets liked enough by someone to add it to Twash...you can also vote for the one you like best to improve it's ranking....oh well..something to do in the wee small hours when sleep remains elusive...

More online applications - and other freebies

Well its been a while since my last post.....despite meaning to keep up interesting posts about my own dear homeland, time has run away with me as usual and I have added nothing. However, we are now doing our second Licence 2 Test Drive course so that will motivate me to keep going! Our first session covers online applications - possibly useful tools that we can use for free to help organise our lives and, as always with Web 2.0, SHARE!!
Google Docs is definitely a useful tool. I first started using it when I wanted to collaborate with my partner's extended family about the Christmas menu - we all bring something to the feast and it can be a pain making sure all courses are covered. Google Docs made it a lot easier, its true. Since then I haven't used it much I confess....how could I use it for work? Let me think......because we have the O Drive which is a shared drive I can't really see the point of adding another sharing application for documents. However, for smaller libraries that don't have a shared drive you could use it for all sorts of collaborative ventures..

Other applications I liked were Tada List and Jott. Tada List looks great for all those lists I keep meaning to write and never do. My main problem is remembering to look at the list!! However having them all in one place is a great notion - you could reuse old lists if need be...I definitely like it! The trouble is you have to be at a computer...which brings me to my other favourite....Jott enables you to "jot' down your thoughts via your mobile phone then email them to yourself or wherever you want...brilliant idea for those like me who keep forgetting things...I wonder if you can email them to your Tada list!!

Folksonomies - fancy word for categorising things

Have been looking at Del.icio.us and have rediscovered my account which I started long ago and its meagre 2 bookmarks. Have added 2 more (wow!! - I'll try not to go overboard!) but will definitely be adding more when I get time. Its actually a really good concept. I love the De.licio.us page for Ask Now - it's excellent for finding those elusive websites to fit a client's question, either during an AskNow session or on the phone or desk. I also like the tag cloud - easier to see a lot of tags at once. Its good to see other libraries using it as a way to recommend good websites to their patrons.


Had a quick look through Technorati - I can see it will be a first port of call when looking for blogs on particular subjects. Really want to get on to Library Thing tho....

Have finally joined Library Thing .... its great! Noosa Library's Library Thing is impressive - so many book clubs! And providing multiple copies for them all is amazing. I'll be adding lots more to mine but i have to say i don't own them all...they're mainly ones I've read - I don't buy many books. Or is that a bad thing...oooh I'm not sure....everyone seems to add books on their shelves at home...I wish i could buy so many books!

RSS Feeds

Must make an effort to finish these posts quicker! Went into Bloglines and finally managed to figure out how it works...its quite fun actually, now I've sussed it out.

I've subscribed to 11 feeds - OPAL Training; ABC News Brisbane; BBC News, World Edition; Librarian's Internet Index; 5 feeds from the NZ Herald; Rotten Tomatoes (Movies); The Shifted Librarian. Will look for more at a later date. I can see they are a good way of keeping up with different interests / events, without having to go to all the different websites / blogs.
Because this blog is about home "across the ditch" I'm going to post the feed for the NZ weather ..... it'll remind me about having to get up in those freezing mornings and more often than not have to get ice off the car window.

Social networking

Have finally got onto doing my next post. As I have had a Facebook account for a couple of years I decided to try Twitter. The most difficult thing was finding a username that hadn't already been taken...I tried all sorts of weird combinations of my name and other names I liked...all taken! Ended up just making up a name. Found this interesting post about this very problem
http://www.netpreneur.com.au/secure-your-name-on-social-networking-sites/2009/02

I had a look at the Brisbane Film festival MySpace page....works really well I think as they can put on lots of film footage. http://www.myspace.com/brisbanefilmfest
Have been pretty disappointed in NLNZ's Twitter posts tho......