Firefox 3.0 to be released at 10 PDT (1:00pm for those on the east coast)
Go and download it! (At the proper time, of course. 
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Entries Tagged as 'Software'
Maybe, finally, found the perfect blog editor
Although the built-in editor for Wordpress works pretty well, it still feels a little bit kludgy. If I’m on my MacBook I like to use Windows Live Writer or Textmate, but Windows Live Writer requires me to fire up VMware and Textmate seems to also be a little kludgy.
I’ve looked at the ScribeFire Firefox extension in the past, when it was Performancing, but the latest version seems to be almost perfect. What I’ve always wanted is to not only post drafts to my blog, but to also edit the drafts. The latest version of ScribeFire not only allows me to save my drafts, but I can then re-edit those drafts from ScribeFire or from Wordpress itself.
For pictures you can either select a picture on your computer and it will automatically upload it or you can do a Flickr search.
I will really be pushing it to my teachers as we increase our blogging use, and maybe put it on as a global extension on my next disk image for school.
Skills You Should Know (SYSK) - vi
I’m starting a new category, that goes along with my blog post Yes I will lead. The new category is called Skills You Should Know - SYSK. Little bits of information that through my experience aren’t something that you may not necessarily use every day, but may someday save you a ton of trouble.
Today’s topic is vi. Vi may be the only editor installed on a new unix based system, and a few commands will get you to the point where at least you can edit a few files before installing something a little more user friendly such as pico (or nano).
Vi has two modes, command and insertion. It was designed this way because sometimes the keyboard you would be using might not necessarily have all the keys we take for granted today, especially when it comes to the arrow keys. In command mode you can move the cursor around with the arrow keys or hjkl keys. To do an editing, you’ll need to switch to insertion mode. Vi defaults to command mode when it is started.
i - Switches to insertion mode
<ESC> - Switches to command mode
In a nutshell, you’ll start the editor with a file:
vi somefile
Once the file is open, you’ll press i to switch to insertion mode. Make the changes to your file. Press <ESC> to switch back to command mode. To exit you’ll press the following (these all start with the colon):
:wq - Write the file and then quit
:q! - Quit the file without saving the changes. A great way if you mess up and just want to not save your changes
These preceding commands should at least get you started. For more info, you may want to visit the following pages:
vi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vi Cheat Sheet
Mastering the VI editor
Interactive response systems
photo credit: swpermanAs we investigate ways to use mobile Internet devices in our classrooms, it hit me that they could be used as an interactive student response system (ISRS). Since current ISRSs are around $100 per person, why not invest in a more useful device such as the iPod Touch, Sony PSP, or Nintendo DS (with Opera)?
I found one company that already is thinking this way, Pocket Mobility with their Quizzler Pro product. Me on the other hand, loves the challenge of coding something up myself.
Has anyone worked with ISRSs? What did you like? What didn’t you like? Is this something I should look at as a summer project?
Paradox of choice
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| photo credit: javYliz |
In the technology world it seems we’re continually confronted with new products, services, software, hardware, etc. And for those of us who have a tough time focusing on one thing at a time, this dizzying array of choices can easily distract us or keep us from finishing previous tasks.
In The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz it describes why this is a problem:
“We normally assume in America that more options (”easy fit” or “relaxed fit”?) will make us happier, but Schwartz shows the opposite is true, arguing that having all these choices actually goes so far as to erode our psychological well-being.”
As a technology coordinator, I’m constantly trying out new things, and it’s very hard to decide whether to actually implement something. Will this new product be easy enough for staff and students to use? Is the learning curve mild enough that my users will learn this product and use it?
When you ask others in the educational technology community what’s the best wiki, blogging software, operating system, etc. you’ll get a ton of choices. So many choices may ultimately lead you to either never be satisfied with your final choice, or worse, never make a decision.
In this blog I am going to try to only give one or two choices for solutions to specific problems. They may not be the best choice, but in the long run, they will be good enough to be of use (I hope).
Personas for Firefox - Theming without restarting
When we first started recommending Firefox, one of the first features that the students found was the ability to change themes. Unfortunately, changing a theme is a pretty heavy weight process, requiring a restart of Firefox. Mozilla Labs has been working on a different theming process, Personas, which doesn’t require a restart:
Features
- You can select a Persona from the dynamic menus and see results instantly without having to discover, select, download or install a separate bit of software or code.
- Personas can be added, removed or updated by their designers at any time, without requiring a software update.
One caveat, the theme can be changed by the designer at anytime, which means there is a chance that something inappropriate may be viewed.
Camtasia Studio for free
From Miguel Guhlin who got it from Leonard at the Mobile Learning Blog:
TechSmith, the makers of Camtasia Studio (one of the best screen recording and video editing tools around) are offering the full version of Version 3.1.3 for free download. This is a terrific tool for all educators to create resources as well as for learners to create their own digital stories and videos - so get it while it’s hot.
Click here to download Camtasia Studio 3.1.3.
Click here to request a software key to register Camtasia Studio 3.1.3 as a fully licensed version.
Windows only, unfortunately. 
ProfCast - Welcome to ProfCast
Are you on a Mac with OS X and would like an easy way to publish a podcast of presentations? Check out ProfCast.
ProfCast is the ideal tool for recording and publishing your live Keynote or PowerPoint presentation. All elements of your presentation, including slide timing and voice narration, are recorded. You can then publish your complete presentation on the Web as a Podcast, complete with RSS support.
Technology give parents control of student lunches
According to CNN.com, Houston School’s will soon be able to allow parents control of their student’s lunches:
Primero Food Service Solutions, developed by Houston-based Cybersoft Technologies, allows parents to set up prepaid lunch accounts so children don’t have to carry money, said Ray Barger, Cybersoft’s director of sales and marketing.
Educational Freeware
Here’s a site with Educational Freeware, listed by downloadable or online. Most of the downloadable is Windows only, but a few pieces of the software will run inder Linux.