Chet Davis - Your Technology Tutor

Facebook Timeline is Here - Free Intro Video with Tips for Your Transition

As you may know, Facebook yesterday rolled out the new Facebook Timeline that had been introduced earlier this year.  I won't debate here whether Facebook should 'impose' this new layout and the new featues on it's millions of users, but rather focus on helping folks with the transition to the new layout.

I have created a 12-minute video to help folks with the transition to the new Facebook Timeline, and included some tips from internet privacy experts:

Here's my Facebook page with the new 'cover' photo installed at top - some folks are showcasing their favorite photos and even creating collages and mini art-pieces with this new feature (I will post some of these tomorrow).  Click on the photo below to see a larger version.

Best Tech-Friendly Airports: How the 40 Busiest U.S. Airports Stack Up

For those traveling next week for Christmas and Hanukkah, a report from PC World magazine may be of interest - especially if you're traveling with your computer and smart phone, and particularly if you have a lay-over in an airport!

Here's the summary from PC World: "Many airports have been pushing to increase the numbers of electrical outlets, USB ports, and desks in their gate areas, and to increase the speed of their facility's Wi-Fi. This chart ranks the 40 busiest U.S. airports on the number and quality of the tech amenities they offer. We found that, in general, the number of electrical outlets per gate remains low in U.S. airports, especially considering how many air travelers now carry mobile, connected devices that require regular charging.

The report does a nice job providing relevant, useful information in a graph with the top 50 airports - here's a sample of the top three domestic airports.

To view the whole report and see how your favorite airport fared with tech - check out their article here: Best Tech-Friendly Airports: How the 40 Busiest U.S. Airports Stack Up

They Know What You've Been Downloading (and it ain't Santa)

A friend alerted me to this interesting (scary ?) article on MSNBC.com about a new website that apparently scans your IP Address (Internet Protocol address - your individual internet connection) and will let you know how many and which files your computer (or more accurately, your internet connection) have download illegally from websites like Bit Torrent, etc.  

There are a number of these sites on the web that have all kinds of files from songs, full albums, full length movies, etc.  All of them you don't pay a dime for as they are not providing these with the consent or cooperation of the entertainment industry - in other words this material is pirated.

When you click on the web site at http://www.youhavedownloaded.com it will display whether any of these illeagll files have been associated with your internet connection.  I did not expect to find any files when I checked but wanted to check out the site anyway to get a peek...here's the message I received (whew!)

You can read the full article on MSNBC.com here: Website knows what you've illegally downloaded

 

 

 

Simple, Easy Christmas Decorations from Film Canisters from Photojojo

Photojojo.com has a great idea on their blog - complete with easy to follow instructions - how you can create your own Christmas decoration using your photos and transparent film containers.

Devised by Sarah MacFarlane of New Zealand, all you need are several of these translucent, plastic film roll canisters, a bunch of your favorite photos (1.5" prints) and some common household tools -- and a string of colored holiday lights. You can read the full details here:via How to Make Film Canister Holiday Lights!

A Very Creative 404 Page

If you've been surfing the internet for any period of time you have very likely clicked a link to a website or page you were interested in but instead of finding what you wanted you were presented with a page that said something like '404 error'.

According to Wikipedia "The 404 or Not Found error message is a HTTP standard response code indicating that the client was able to communicate with the server, but the server could not find what was requested"

A Facebook Friend today shared a very creative 404 Error page, that's not really a 404 error page.  Instead it's a work by artist Steve Lambert - check it out by clicking the image below or here: Steve Lambert 404

Free Video On-Line: Cameras & Gadgets For the Video Producer

Middle of last month I presented a webinar titled Cameras and Gadgets - Gifts for the Videographer...where I highlighted some of the video technology tools that are available this year for those video producers and hobbyists on your holiday gift list (maybe yourself ?).

The presentation is uploaded and available for free which you view on-line here... it's split into two videos: Part 1 Cameras, Part 2 Accessories & Gadgets.

Video Cameras

Your Video Expert shares some of his favorite video cameras in the $80 to $1,5000 range. Chet highlights each of these 8 video cameras and why he believes they are good buys - Length 33:55

Gadgets and Stuff

Chet Davis shares some of his favorite gadgets, accessories and services for video producers. These make great gift ideas for you or the videographer on your holiday shopping list - Length 58:46

Again - the videos are on this page: Cameras and Gadgets - Gifts for the Videographer

Beware of penny auctions - websites where you bid small money for big ticket items

You've likely come across one of the websites which are called 'penny auctions'. These are websites that promote the success that folks have in buying some really cool items at very small (low) prices.

Here's a screen shot of one of the sites beezid.com.  The compelling lure of these sites is again attractive merchandise with a running time counter - you bid on the item that has a price that you hope to purchase it at (for example the Nikon camera below is listed with a current bid at $2.57 (for a digital camera with a list price of $229). 

The 'catch' is that you have to purchase bids to bid. 

Consumer Reports has an on-line article that cautions folks about these auctions that may look better than they're worth...indicating that "you could end up spending a lot of money, and losing the bidding war". 

With each bid costing 60-cents at one site, for example - it's not uncommon for someone to bid 10 to 100 times on an item they really want (and one that someone else is bidding against you on)...this would mean you spent between $6.00 and $60.00 just in the bidding - and if you do not win the bid, that's money you have simply paid to play.

This can be likened to dropping 60-bucks into a slot machine. Not a problem if you are aware of this - so now we know. Here's the article from Consumer Reports.org: Beware of penny auctions as you search for shopping deals

Do It Yourself : Gloves That Work on Your iPhone or Smart Phone

With the onset of colder weather - those of you who live in colder climes who try to use your Smart Phone with gloves on may find a frustrating experience!  Here's a neat solution - you can add a small bit of conductive thread to your gloves or mittens which apparently do the trick!

Becky Stern of New York provides us with the following step by step video to help you with this project. Honestly - I haven't tried this as our winters here in Northern California are fairly mild (and I cannot say I am that crafty with a needle and thread).

If you'd like Becky's print-able instructions (with photos of the steps) visit the Make Projects blog here: iPhone Gloves

Holiday Lights Video Workshop in San Francisco - 50% discount today!

 

To celebrate the coming Holiday season I will be offering special prices for my Holiday Lights Walkabout video camera workshop...today only (Monday, November 28th) you can purchase tickets to attend my hands-on video camera coaching workshop which will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday - December 14, 15, and 17 in San Francisco.

Regular price for this fun and useful hands-on experience is $59 for the 3-hour workshop, but on Cyber Monday (November 28, 2011) you can purchase your ticket for $29!

Click here for detailed agenda and on-line registration: Video Walkabout: Holiday Lights in San Francisco

Social media keep military families connected – USATODAY.com

Technology - like any other tool we have access to - can be a force for positive change and progress or can be a hindrance to our well being.

We see articles regularly and study results how technology can negatively impact our children, our sleep and our social interaction... those are important to pay attention to, but I hasten to share the findings where technology plays a positive role in our lives and times.

USA Today shares an article that fits in this vain: Social media allow military families a deeper connection

The article provides examples how social media, particularly Facebook has improved the connection between deployed U.S. Soldiers and their families back home:  "Until about two years ago, the military had blocked most access to Facebook and similar sites because of concerns over security breaches, said Don Faul, vice president of online operations for Facebook. Now, military commanders advise troops and their families on how to keep themselves and their units safe online."

Another technology mentioned in the article is Skype..."I'll put the video camera on and put her on the floor and he'll sort of play with her," (their 10 month old daughter) "That's the closest he can come. He loves it. He gets to see her grow."

I should point out the article provides a balanced look at the use of technologies for military families - as their may be challenges when the soldiers return home ..."she got so used to using Skype to talk with their father in Iraq that their youngest girl still wants to do it...Even though he's sitting in the living room, she'll say, 'No, Mommy, I need to talk to him on the computer'.

You can read the entire article in today's issue of USA Today or in the on-line article here: Social media allow military families a deeper connection