Visit Mars Digitally

This is a little outside of my realm of things I blog about, but it is too cool not to share...

Here is a 360 degree adjustable view of Mars:


Curiosity rover: Martian solar day 2 in New Mexico

Via Amanda Kooser of CNET

Multiple User Account in Android OS

Check out this article for some proof that Google has been working on multiple user accounts inside of the new Jelly Bean version of the popular Android OS:

http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/07/30/multiple-user-accounts-are-coming-miles-of-code-is-already-in-aosp-and-soof-it-is-quietly-working-on-devices-right-now/

via Ron Amadeo of Android Police

The 20 Best iOS And Android Apps Of 2012 (So Far)

Check out this article from Techctunch:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/07/08/the-20-best-ios-and-android-apps-of-2012-so-far/

Will Android Jelly Bean Be Coming to Your Device?

Will the exciting announcement of the Android's update to it's operating system Jelly Bean (4.1), I had to go out and find out if my devices were going to update to it...  Luckily for me, I think I am going to be rather good according to this site:

Which Phones and Tablets Will Get the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Update?

FYI, my devices are the Motorola Xoom and the Samsung Galaxy S III - didn't even bother looking up for my Samsung Droid Charge as that never even received Ice Cream Sandwich :)

Happy 4th of July

Here is a link to a page that has a 4th of July themed Microsoft Excel worksheet:

4th of July Celebration in an Excel Spreadsheet

Thanks to Steve Chase for sharing this! Here is a link to his blog:

http://stevechasedocs.wordpress.com/

Interesting Possible Keyboard Design in Windows Phone 8

Check out this link to see what might be coming in the next version of the Windows Phone:

Windows Phone 8 to get curvy one-handed keyboard? - CNET Mobile

I find this especially interesting as this could be an awesome layout for someone who only has one hand.

How soon do you think it will take for someone to make an app like this for iOS and/or Android?

New Features in Windows 8 and Server 2012

I sat through some very interesting presentations by Keith Mayer, the Microsoft Evangelist for our area at New Horizons' SpechTECHular event. On his blog he has a few PDF's of what's new in Windows 8 and Server 2012... 


Click here for the blog update for the PDF's. 


Click here to view Keith's blog (you can also find out ways to connect with him to keep up on all things Microsoft). 

Yay For the Next Version of Android

Google heralds next Android with Jelly Bean sculpture

So, how soon do you think this will arrive on my soon to be Samsung Galaxy SIII?

Facebook vs Linked In for Businesses

Check out this interesting graphic:

Click Here to View the  Picture Bigger

There are a lot of stats in here geared towards Ireland, but this still give a lot of good information!

I believe Linked In and Facebook are great tools to help market things, and the price tag is even better...

This came from a blog, and in the blog they list a lot of other good information regarding marketing on Facebook and Linked In here: http://bit.ly/JSittu 

(via Dara Creative)

Screen Shots with Samsung Droid Charge

So, I have accidently taken many screen shots using my Samsung Droid Charge, so I finally took the time to see how I did this... Check out this video to find out for yourself!



This is awesome that Samsung built this feature into this phone, so that you don't have to go out and purchase  3rd party screen shot software like Screenshot It.

Green Emailing

Check out this video to see why when you use Gmail, you are actually reducing your carbon footprint when compared to some other email solutions.  



Also, check out this link to find out other ways Google has gone green: http://www.google.com/green/.

Chameleon- A New Homescreen for Android Tablets

Check out this video for a look into a new home screen replacement that could be coming to Android tablets:



What I like best about this is how they use cool facial recognition to allow for multiple users.  This can be worth it just for that so that a family can have different user accounts and home screens for every user.  Being a new father, this would also be great so that I could set up security on the device for my daughter, and limit what apps and widgets were on her home screen.

They have taken the app to Kickstater, a cool place where people go to get funding for projects.  I am definately hoping this gets funded!  Click here to view the project on  Kickstater .

Here is their video to try to drum up some funding:



Here is a widget that shows some updated information on the possibility of funding:



(via Android Police)

Free Facebook Timeline Cards

Moo.com is running a special right now, where you can get 50 free cards with all of your cool Facebook Timeline graphic pulled automatically into the card!  Well, you do have to pay Shipping and Handling, but for $5.50, I still don't think that is a bad deal at all!

I made some for the Facebook Page that I manage, Capabilities, Inc (Feel free to Like the page for Capabilities by clicking here).  Here is the card that I created, all just by allowing  Moo.com  to access my page:

Front Side of Card

Back Side of Card

Looks like I have a cool tool to hand out at the different events I go to market the services that Capabilities offers now!

What else is nice about this product, is that you can make cards for both your personal account and your business page.  Unfortunately, they are only allowing you to get 1 free promotional pack of 50, as I tried to make ones for the other pages that I manage.  But still, this is a great innovational product that small businesses can use to extend their reach on Facebook and get new people to like their pages.

Amazon Appstore Battery Drain Issues

Screen Shot from Artem's Phone

Artem Russakovskii, the founder of Android Police, recently removed the Amazon App Store because of battery drain issues.  Check out his full blog post on Android Police for more details on the issues he ran into with this here: http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/05/14/goodbye-amazon-appstore/.

Personally, I have not ran into this issue yet, but I use a different model of phone than Artem (Samsung Droid Charge), so the issue may not be affecting my phone, or I may have different programs loaded through Amazon App Store.

Artem also bring up an interesting point about supporting the developers who create the awesome apps.  If you are worried about losing all your purchases from the Free App of the Day, you may want to reevaluate this, as the end developers do not make any money off of doing that promotion (although it could be heavily debated about how much marketing buzz a developer would get from running the Free App of the Day promotion).

So, check out what is draining your phone!  Here is a great article that describes how you can check what is draining your Android Phone's battery (without downloading any apps even!): http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20073973-285/how-to-see-which-apps-are-draining-your-android-devices-battery/

Could Google+ End Ustream?

Check out this link for some more information on Google+'s new feature: Google+ Hangouts On Air: broadcast your conversation to the world.


It looks like Google+ is really going for the streaming market.  Ustream offers something like this, but none of the other big social networking sites (Twitter and Facebook) offer this yet.

In just looking at this feature as a small business person, I think I could use this to give product demonstrations or to do some staff training.  And the cool part is that this feature is free!  Of course I could also use this to host a summit on how my beautiful daughter has the best giggles in the world.

By the way, she does, here is the proof:



It will be interesting to see what Google does with this new feature.  Now, if they could just get more people to buy into their social networking platform, they would be all set.  If they keep on rolling out new and innovative features like this, they just might.

So Penultimate Will be Comimg to Android When?

Check out this link:

Ben Zotto, Penultimate Founder, Says ‘The Future is Bright’

Penultimate is a great app to take handwritten notes on the iOS platform. It will be interesting to see how Evernote integrates and expands the functionality of Penultimate.  I can't wait to get this on Android!  My Motorola XOOM is already salivating at the possibilities with this app!

Here is the link letting everyone know about Penultimate joining the crew:
Evernote Aquires Penultimate

Here are the links to the apps and devices I talk about in this post:

Click Here for the Penultimate Site

Tech Blog Ring

My blog recently got added to the Tech Blog Ring!  The Tech Blog Ring's goal is to provide a comprehensive collection of business-solution focused discussions by independent technical bloggers. Every blogger who is on the site got a cool custom avatar, so here is mine for your viewing pleasure:

If you are interested in getting your blog added to Tech Blog Ring, you can do this!  They are still adding blogs, so jump on to their site today to see if you can get yours added!

Here is the link for the Tech Blog Ring:

http://www.techblogring.com/

Color Picking

As of my last couple of work days, I have been doing a lot of graphic design work, and I just stumbled upon an awesome tool today!

 I have trouble picking out colors from time to time (as I am less than classically trained in the art of design :) ).  So, I thought, hey, wouldn't it be cool if a there was an application out there that automatically picked out colors for me based on a color I gave it as input?  Yes, it turns out this does exist, and here it is: http://colorschemedesigner.com/.

I really like the fact that you have a lot of customizable aspects to help you along the way.  And even cooler is the fact that you can export the color selections to programs so that you don't have to manually plug them in.

Big props to Petr Stanicek on making this tool... For some more info on Petr (and to see some awesome pictures of him), check out his page here: http://www.pixy.cz/index-en.html

Beer + Android = Best Idea Ever

Check out this link for the best way that we are using the Android OS yet:
Meet KegDroid: An Android/Arduino-Powered Keg In The Shape Of Our Favorite Robot: Your Argument Is Invalid
Unfortunately this isn't for sale yet... It was made by a senior Google engineer. I know that if this ever hits the market, he can count me in on the people that will purchase it!


For all the cool details, check out this video:

Is Dropbox Dead Yet?

The highly anticipated Google Drive is alive!  I appreciate how they compare all the hype that has come with Google drive to the Loch Ness monster in this blog.  I am looking forward to giving this a try, as the prices for the professional accounts dwarf the ones for Dropbox.

Check out Google Drive for yourself here:  http://drive.google.com

Go with the Tried and Trusty Dropbox Here: www.dropbox.com

Desktop Manager for Windows for your Mobile Android Devices

Check out this link: Moborobo Is An Insanely Powerful Desktop Manager For Your Android (Or Other) Device

I'm so looking coward to trying this out! 

Adaptive Technology Dicussion

If you are interested in hearing about adaptive technology for business and personal use, catch me at the Technology Expo being held at the Sidney (Ohio) High School.  The event is tomorrow (January 20th, 2012) from 9:00 AM to noon.  One of the best parts about the expo is the price: FREE!

I will be leading a 45 minute discussion on adaptive technology.  I look forward to seeing you there if you can make it!

Click here for a full description of the event.

Click here to get directions using Google Maps.

Passwords: A Necessary Evil

So I am sure everyone has ran into the problem of not remembering a password from time to time. For most cases, I just use the Explorer add on LastPass (which by the way is beyond fantastic too if you go from computer to computer or browser to browser routinely).  I don't use the password saving function of the different browsers as I am worried about the security of these.   LastPass  uses 256-bit AES encryption to store your passwords, so you can rest easy on the security level.

What  LastPass  cannot do is help you recover the passwords for Windows log in.  This can be a major headache for you if you have forgotten the password and now cannot log in to Windows.  Rest easy, there is a tool to help you out!  Ophcrack is a password recovery tool that I have to run every now and then to recover passwords on devices for individuals.  The coolest part is that you don't even have to install a program to recover the passwords.  You can just burn Ophcrack onto a CD and then boot the CD directly when you start up your computer.  You might have to change some BIOS settings to get this to run, but if you aren't familiar with this already, I wouldn't recommend messing with it.

Passwords are extremely important when it comes to security, but they can cause quite the headache when you can't remember something.  Remembering passwords can also be difficult if you have a disability that affects your memory.  The thing to remember is that there are tools out there to help you if you get stuck!

Here are the links to the different programs/add ons I cover in the post:

Ophcrack: http://www.ophcrack.sourceforge.net/
LastPass: https://www.lastpass.com/