Online collaboration tools…real world use?
Posted on October 31, 2005
Filed Under Nonprofit | 2 Comments
There’s a crop of ‘em…online document collaborations services. Write something, share it with people who can edit it and you can work together to create something.
I’m very interested in this for [C3](http://www.c-three.org). We are generating a lot of documents… letters, memos, newsletters, position papers, proposals, etc. and since we’re all online, I thought it would be great if we could use these tools to edit & collaborate.
The ones I’ve looked at/tried include:
* [Writely](http://www.writely.com)
* [Writeboard](http://www.writeboard.com) (from [37Signals](http://www.37signals.com) and also included in their [Backpack](http://www.backpackit.com) and [Basecamp](http://www.basecamphq.com) products)
* [JotspotLive](http://www.jot.com)
* [Moonedit](http://me.sphere.pl/indexen.htm) - didn’t actually try it…ruled it out because I wouldn’t consider something I couldn’t use on a Mac
* [SubEthaEdit](http://www.codingmonkeys.de/subethaedit/index.html) - disqualified for same reason as Moonedit…has to be cross platform. This one is Mac OS X only.
* [WebCollaborator](http://webcollaborator.com/) - looked, could tell immediately that the interface wouldn’t fly - didn’t sign up for an account
* [Gobby](http://gobby.0×539.de/index.html) - too geeky and requires a download. Next!
Essentially, I’m trying to avoid going the route of Microsoft SharePoint. We’re all using Word, but it’s another layer of support and expense that I don’t want to deal with. We are already very happy with [WebOffice](http://www.webexone.com) for document, calendar, task, etc. sharing. But I’m constantly reminding folks to edit a document and replace the one that’s already uploaded without creating a second document to keep track of.
Of all the tools mentioned above, the best of the bunch in my opinion is [Writely](http://www.writely.com). Why? You can import/export Word files. It doesn’t require users to learn Markdown/Textile or any code to format text.
But there is plenty of room for improvement. This morning, I sent in feedback suggesting the following changes/improvements:
* Show more than one collaborator’s revisions in a screen. If 3 people have reviewed/edited a document, I’d like to see the final version with all or a few of the edits highlighted so I can see who changed what. Writely currently lets you step back and see revisions one at a time.
* Accept/reject revisions on a case by case basic. If collaborator A made 4 changes but for whatever reason one can’t be used, I want the ability to take the 3 that I can use.
* Margin notes/comments. We use this in Word a lot. Some revisions need internal explanation that we don’t want to type in to the document. [Writeboard](http://www.writeboard.com) has this, but its lack of WYSIWYG editing tools puts it out of the running. [37Signals](http://www.37signals.com) prides itself on the simplicity of its products, but what’s the point if I have to get folks to learn a new way of doing things?
I received a reply from the Writely folks a few hours after I sent in my message. Seems they’re working on some of the very features I’ve requested! Nice to hear. I’m looking forward to see what they’re doing…may even be worth whatever subscription fee they’re contemplating.
Technorati Tags: beta, web2.0, webapps, writely, online collaboration
Daylight savings in the digital age
Posted on October 30, 2005
Filed Under Life | Leave a Comment
[Cory Doctorow from Boing Boing:](http://www.boingboing.net/2005/10/30/daylight_savings_end.html)
>Dayllight Savings ends today — you get an extra hour of sleep but you need to remember to roll your clocks back by an hour. It’s cool how many more of my clocks do this automatically with each passing year.
I was just saying this to Eric. Now I get to add my car to the list…my Honda Odyssey sets it clock through the GPS. This morning, the only clocks I had to set back manually were:
* Alarm clock next to the bed
* Stove/microwave
* The clock display in our 4 Vtech phone handsets scattered throughout the house
That’s it. Even my iPod was smart enough to make the switch on its own. I stopped wearing a wrist watch years ago. I found that between my cell phone, PDA, car, computer(s) and kitchen stove the last place I needed to look to tell the time was my wrist.
Technorati Tags: daylight savings time, honda odyssey, ipod video, time, technology
Social bookmarking: simple just works
Posted on October 29, 2005
Filed Under Internet & Technology | 2 Comments
I’ve looked at most of the “cool” social boomarking sites…even tried a few…[Furl](http://www.furl.net), [BlinkList](http://www.blinklist.com), [Shadows](http://www.shadows.com)…I’m sure there are more I’m not thinking about. Most have really pretty “Web 2.0 goodness” interfaces.
But when you get down to it, it’s about what you reach for before you think about the fact that you’re reaching for something. When a tool goes from “gee, isn’t this neat” to being about getting something done in a way that’s better/easier than the way you did it before without it being all about the tool.
So after trying and playing with all the social bookmarking sites…what’s the one that I reach for when I just need to be sure that I can retrieve a page later? [del.icio.us](http://www.del.icio.us). In its native form, it ain’t the prettiest. However, it’s the quickest and easiest way to save a page and have the tags suggested for you. The interface doesn’t get in the way. It just works. Simple. Fast. If you want to make it more complicated or visual, [there are tons of options](http://pchere.blogspot.com/2005/02/absolutely-delicious-complete-tool.html).
I love the new [tag bundles](http://blog.del.icio.us/blog/2005/10/bundle_up.html). Makes it easier to separate the work-related tags from the play-related ones.
Technorati Tags: social bookmarks, del.icio.us, tagging
Look at me ma! I’m doing the blogging thing! Not.
Posted on October 29, 2005
Filed Under Life | Leave a Comment
From Buzzmachine: “Mr. Blogger”
>As promised, Dennis Hastert has started his blog.
>>Most of you know me as a coach by nature so I hope this gives you some inside access to the Republican playbook.
>>The internet is changing the way we share information. My office has been talking a lot about some of the conversations going on in blogosphere. So I thought, hey, I should start one and give you unfiltered updates on Capitol Hill.
>So the man two heartbeats away from the Presidency is blogging.
No, the man two heartbeats away from the Presidency is using blog tools as a political/marketing vehicle. I don’t call that a blog. There’s no way to leave comments or feedback (that I can find). He might as well say that he’s doing a live town hall meeting, but no one is allowed to raise their hand and ask a question. Heck, his “blog” is the equivalent of him standing in a room by himself while his carefully chosen remarks are broadcast to people standing outside. [His second entry](http://www.speaker.gov/journal/051028_economic_activity_jumps.shtml) takes a news article where the man himself is quoted for goodness sake (that’s fair and balanced for you) and uses it to show the world that things aren’t so bad. Give me a break! I’m not saying the report isn’t true, but have the guts [to quote someone other than yourself.](http://news.google.com/news?q=economy+hurricane&hl=en&lr=&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2005-09,GGGL:en&sa=N&tab=nn&oi=newsr).
What is the difference between that fluff writing and one of the press releases on his website with the same content? Putting up a page written casually in the first person is not blogging. Allow comments (good, bad & ugly as long as they’re not flames or threats…”real” bloggers know the difference and can moderate their blogs yet allow open dialogue and yes, even criticism), allow pings (easier to moderate than comments)…if that gets out of control at the very least have an RSS feed…then come and tell me that you’re “blogging.”
Technorati Tags: politics, blogging
Happy Chanukah to me!
Posted on October 29, 2005
Filed Under Macintosh | Leave a Comment
Yes, it’s 2 months early. But I got my present already!
[Hubby](http://www.9to5andotherwise.com) read my post about [my Shuffle](http://www.momathome.com/viewfromhome/2005/10/i_love_my_shufflebut.php) and how I would prefer an iPod with larger capacity so it would sync automatically.
He says: “Are you hinting that you want a new iPod for Chanukah?”
Now, don’t tell him…but I honestly wasn’t hinting. Yeah, I do want one of those new iPods for all the reasons I mentioned in that entry but I wasn’t seriously expecting to get him to buy me one. I have been known to use my blog for [shameless hinting](http://www.momathome.com/viewfromhome/2004/07/hint_hint.php) but this wasn’t one of those. But, I know how to roll with a good thing when I see it, so I said, “uh, yeah!”
I’ve got two trips to DC coming up in November, so knowing that the next thing he says is, “would you like it sooner rather than later for the traveling you’re doing now?” I know how to roll with a good thing when I see it, so I said, “uh, yeah!”
So yesterday dear, sweet hubby comes home with a nice little black box from the Apple Store and I have me a new [30GB black iPod with video](http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html)!
First impressions:
* I can’t stand the little how-dare-you-even-call-it-that case that comes with it. It’s two pieces of felt stitched together. Yeah, it’s better than nothing given all the yelling and screaming about how easily these things can scratch. Unfortunately, there aren’t many cases out there yet that are designed for the fifth generation iPods. [Speck products](http://www.speckproducts.com/for-video.html) has some cases coming soon. As does [Tunewear](http://www.tunewear.com/english/product/ambassador_ipod_5g/index.html) and [Vaja](http://www.vajachoice.com/id/mkt/contacto.nsf/ipod_5g_form). I want a sturdy case that doesn’t need to be removed to use. I also want a compartment for the headphones.
* The screen is *gorgeous*. I never would have believed that you could watch video comfortably in a 2.5 in screen but wow, it’s incredible. [Here's a tutorial](http://howto.diveintomark.org/ipod-dvd-ripping-guide/) to rip DVD movies to the iPod using free software. I might give it a try. My music library is currently at 11GB, so I have plenty of room. Catch is the battery life, which is only around 2 hours for video. I don’t think I’ll watch *Lord of the Rings* on my iPod, but an episode of *Buffy* that I already own on DVD? Sure, why not? I watched the beginning of the first episode of [Photoshop TV](http://www.photoshopguys.com/) and it’s unbelievable that you can watch a Photoshop demo on a screen this small and still read the menus!
* Would you believe that this is the first time that I have ever spent more than 30 seconds navigating in an iPod? As a result, I’m terrible with the click wheel. It’s very sensitive. I love how easy it is to scroll…but stopping at the right selection, lifting my thumb and then clicking in the center to select obviously takes a combination of skill and practice I don’t have yet. I’m constantly selecting the menu item just above or just below what I want.
* I would love a way to display remaining battery life in estimated time rather than just the green bar.
* The little black pads that come with the headphones make it much easier on the ears than the bare headphones of the Shuffle.
* I just ordered Apple’s [iPod USB Power Adapter](http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=M9837LL/A). I travel with my PC, not the Mac. The iPod software is formatted to work with the Mac. I can plug the iPod into the PC and it will charge, but the only way to safely dismount the iPod from the PC is to shut the PC down. Windows XP tries to be swap & play, it’s really not. Its “Remove Hardware” application never seems to work and always tells me that the connected device can’t be stopped. When I’m sitting on the Amtrak train next to a power outlet I might as well be charging my iPod.
