by ·Comments Off on Earn or make money online

Yesterday while driving, I heard that there is a way to make a couple of bucks…or $4 to be exact…by selling your services online.

There is a web site that does just that.  It is called www.fiverr.com.  Through that site, people can basically buy and sell service.  Those selling, sell what they have to offer for $5.  Those buying, purchase a service for $5.

In the end, the buyer gets something for $5, the seller get $4, and Fiverr.com gets $1!  So who said you can’t make money online; with Fiberr.com you can.

by ·Comments Off on Paradise at Sea

Once in a while, I come up with ideas about what to post here. Today, I wanted to share some interesting photos I’ve taken over time. The one below was taken back on 12 Jan 2010. My family and I were just coming back from a shore visit on Catalina Island. I shot this with a Nikon D5000 camera.

Paradise at sea (by Forlanda)

Paradise at sea (by Forlanda)

by ·Comments Off on Multimedia: Slideshow creation

There is a site called animoto.com which allows anyone ot take a set of pictures and turn them into a dazzling collage of images that has life  Below is a sample of what you can do with it if you use the free version:

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

by ·Comments Off on Why Android will beat iPhone in the long run

Apple has been known to push the envelope on innovation.  Their releases of personal computers long ago (back in the 1980s) with the Apple II/IIe and especially the Macintosh were innovative for their time.  However, because they only ran on a particular platform controlled by Apple, the IBMPC compatible with Microsoft Windows operating system quickly took over.

By the 1990s, the only people that used apples were the education sectors, those with special multimedia application requirements, and the die-hard Apple fans.  Most users went on the PC/Microsoft Windows bandwagon.  Almost every electronic store you go to you will see various PC brands like Dell, HP, Compaq, Acer, ASUS, eMachine, Toshiba, and IBM.

I see the same pattern with Apple again.  This time it is with the iPhone; and this time the battle is against Google’s Android operating system which is run by many smart phone platforms.  The race is starting to heat up with the recent release and highly marketed DROID phone from Verizon.  Most recently, there has been very strong buzz around Google’s Nexus One. 

From what I can see, features and capabilities that the iPhone have the Android phones also have.  Right now Apple touts over 100,00 apps for the iphone, while the Android has tens of throusands; but because of its open architecture, I foresee Android applications quickly surpassing the iPhone in application count.  And from the standpoint of availability, the Android operating system is more available from more phone service providers than the iPhone, which is limited only to AT&T. 

I predict that within three years, the Android-based cell phones will completely dominate the smart phone market.  The iPhone will continue to thrive, but only for those die-hard Apple fans.  Check back in 2013!

by ·Comments Off on Saving YouTube videos for later viewing

Have you ever wished you can save some of those YouTube videos for later viewing?  This is especially true if you plan on going somewhere with your laptop with no Internet access.

If your answer is yes, then read on…

There is a file conversion site–zamzar.com–that can actually convert YouTube video postings to any video format your computer can play.  All you need to do is open your browser to http://www.zamzar.com.  There make sure to do the following:

  1. In step 1, click the URL link so that you can provide the URL of the YouTube video you wish to get.
  2. In step 2, specify the video format your computer can play.  For windows computers, specifying “wmv”  should guarantee that your Media Player can play the resulting video file.
  3. In step 3, you will need to specify you e-mail address.  This is where Zamzar.com will send a download link for the converty video.
  4. In step 4, you just need to click the CONVERT button, and you are done.
  5. Now all you have to do is wait for an e-mail from Zamzar.com
  6. When you get the e-mail, you will find a download link for the YouTube video.  Click the link and download the video.  You can now play the video on your computer whether you have Internet access or not!

If you have several YouTube videos you wish to save for later viewing, repeat the above steps for each and everyone of them.

Have fun!

Warning:  Some videos are copyrighted.  Be careful not to contribute to such illegal activities.

by ·Comments Off on Core Droid Applications

From the factory, the Droid comes with the following built-in core applications:

  • Alarm Clock
  • Amazon MP3
  • Browser
  • Calculator
  • Calendar
  • Camera
  • Car Home
  • Contacts
  • Corporate Calendar
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Gallery
  • Gmail
  • Maps
  • Market
  • Messaging
  • Music
  • Phone
  • Settings
  • Talk
  • Visual VM
  • Voice Search
  • YouTube

The unit has 3 desktops you can fill with shortcuts to the above applications and other applications you may install at some point in the future.

The center desktop has the following preset shortcuts:

  • Messaging
  • Phone
  • Contacts
  • Browser
  • Maps
  • Market
  • Voice Search

All core applications are quickly explained below.

Alarm Clock

Provides a clock and alarming features which can be set in various ways.  You can add a single alarm, a periodic daily alarm, or an alarm that goes off on certain days of the week.

Amazon MP3

You can browse top music albums or tracks.  You can also browse by genre.  When you find what you like, you can purchase it.

Browser

This is the Internet browser.  The browser is location aware.  Through its GPS function, it knows where it is.

Calculator

Provides basic calculator functionality, including some advanced math functions like sin, cos, tan, ln, log, factorial, pi, exponential, power, and square root.

Calendar

Your Google calendar will show here.

Camera

Provides your basic camera function with still pictures and video capabilities.  The camera can shoot 5 megapixels pictures.

Car Home

The GPS Navigation system.  Has voice command capabilities so that if you wish to go to a particular address, you can say “directions to…”.  Aside from navigation, you can view contacts and the map here.

Contacts

Your contact list resides here.  Any accounts you synchronize with that contains contact information will go here.

Corporate Calendar

If you synch up with MS Exchange, your corporate calendar will show here.

Email

Provides access to e-mail accounts.

Facebook

This is a Facebook application to access your Facebook page on the web.  The interface is pretty straight forward.

Gallery

Provides a means to view pictures and videos in an easy to follow format.

Gmail

Application for Google’s web e-mail–gmail.

Maps

This is just like google maps, but it is location aware.  It will show the Droid’s present location on the map.

Market

This is just like the iPhone’s app store.  The market is where you can get free and paid for applications for the Droid.

Messaging

TEXTing application.

Music

Music playing application.

Phone

By the way, I forgot that the Droid is a phone too.

Settings

This is where most of the Droid customization and settings are done.

Talk

This is an application for Google’s IM called Talk.

Visual VM

Allows user to view voice mail and source of voice mail.  Voice mails can be managed through the application.  This service cost money to use.

Voice Search

Allows user to do searches on anything using voice commands.

YouTube

This is a Droid YouTube application.

by ·Comments Off on Free but Awesome Apps for DROID

Recently I had the opportunity to evaluate a DROID.  Aside from some very useful and impressive core applications, I found these free jewels in DROID’s application market:

  1. DropBox – in the cloud storage, 2GB free; can be accessed from any device (tablet, computer, smartphone)
  2. EverNote – take notes and save it using any of your electronic devices (computer, tablet, smartphone)
  3. Thingking Space – an awesome mind mapping utility
  4. 1Cast News – video news which provides highlights of key news events
  5. Advanced Task Killer – allows one to manage the multiple tasks that are running on your DROID
  6. Android VNC – remote control your PC from your DROID
  7. Backgrounds – provides a vast list of desktop backgrounds
  8. Barcode Scanner – reads UPC codes
  9. Cardio Trainer – tracks your position and time
  10. Chess Online Free – good computer opponent
  11. Document to go – read-only capability for MS Office documents
  12. Robo Defense Free – addicting game
  13. Finance – see real-time stock quotes
  14. Flexilis Mobile Security – anti-virus for Android
  15. Free Dictionary Org – handy dictionary reference
  16. FxCamera – create effects on photos
  17. Jewels – game
  18. PicSay – create balloons and other labels on photos
  19. Ultimate Stop watch – analog stop watch
  20. USA Today – news
  21. WeatherBug – location-based weather information
  22. Where – location-based interest finder on google maps
  23. Whois – find out info about domains
  24. WiFinder – see what WiFi signals are around you
  25. WikiMobile – WikiPedia-like access
  26. WpTogo – update your WordPress blog through this app
  27. YellowBook – yellow pages

Do you know of a free Droid application that isn’t on this list but you think is worth mentioning?  If so, let us know; leave a comment.

by ·Comments Off on The next Wave in Communication: Google Wave

I’ve been hoping to get invited to beta test Google’s new online application called “Wave”.  Well, after submitting two requests over a period of a month, I finally got an invitation!

I am now one of the lucky few who will get a chance to test drive what could be one of the most paradigm changing revolutions in our Internet times.

As I go through the use of Wave I will post my opinion of it and it possible applications, and how this new communications medium can possibly impact the way we do things online or with our daily lives.

by ·Comments Off on Google Books: Just-in-time book publishing



If this technology takes off, it could mean smaller book stores.  Barnes & Noble or Borders as we know them, may end up looking more like coffee shops than a book store.

You may also see small “mom & pop” book shops sprout out with a drive through for book pick ups, considering the space requirement will be significantly smaller and provided that the machine is relatively affordable for businesses.

Imagine also if libraries get some funding from the government to provide this service. They can get any books available online provided paper supplies are available!

This is also excellent for people who wants to self-publish. See the video below. You don’t have to have a publisher publish your book; you can do it yourself.

It would be interesting how this evolves or develops in the next two to three years.