Microsoft has announced that its new Windows 7 operating system will be ready “in time for the holiday season,” reports Gismodo. The release date of the successor to Microsoft’s much-criticized Vista operating system has been the subject of rumor for months. It makes sense that the company would release its new product in time for a busy shopping season.
If you are interested in downloading a copy of Windows 7 Release Candidate, click here.
For a review of Windows 7, click here.
May 11, 2009
Online Jazz Festival, May 12- 14
Have you enjoyed the jazz posts here at The Tech Desk? Well, there is more music coming your way. As part of the launch of its new database, Jazz Music Library, database publisher Alexander Street Press is hosting an Online Jazz Festival from May 12 to May 14. Not only will the Jazz Music Library be free for this time, but there will also be contests, free music downloads, and drawings for free CDs.
Jazz Music Library features over 18,000 audio tracks from over 3,800 different artists. Labels that comprise the database include Verve, GRP, Fantasy, Concord Jazz, Original Jazz Classics, and many more. Be sure to go here starting Tuesday, May 12 to participate in the Alexander Street's First Annual Online Jazz Music Festival. For more information about the festival, click here.
Jazz Music Library features over 18,000 audio tracks from over 3,800 different artists. Labels that comprise the database include Verve, GRP, Fantasy, Concord Jazz, Original Jazz Classics, and many more. Be sure to go here starting Tuesday, May 12 to participate in the Alexander Street's First Annual Online Jazz Music Festival. For more information about the festival, click here.
May 10, 2009
Change Firefox's Look with Personas
Are you tired of looking at the default Firebox menu and address bar? You could always change the theme, but that would also change the look of the navigation buttons and menus. If you want to change the way Firefox looks, but keep the same navigation layout, consider adding a persona to Firefox.
Personas are graphical "skins" that are applied to the menu and status bars of Firefox. Instead of the default grey background color, you can customize the background to feature various designs. For example, here is Firefox using the Golden Gate Bridge persona:
Personas are easy to use and just require a simple software installation. To get personas for Firefox, go to getpersonas.com.
Personas are graphical "skins" that are applied to the menu and status bars of Firefox. Instead of the default grey background color, you can customize the background to feature various designs. For example, here is Firefox using the Golden Gate Bridge persona:
Personas are easy to use and just require a simple software installation. To get personas for Firefox, go to getpersonas.com.
Astronauts to Tweet from Space
NASA astronaut Mark Polansky, who will be commanding the next mission to the International Space Station, has just posted a video to NASA’s official YouTube channel inviting YouTubers and Twitter fans to take part in his next mission, submitting video questions via YouTube and following mission updates over Twitter.
To ask a question, Polansky says to create a video of around thirty seconds and post it to YouTube, then send it to his Twitter account using an @reply. He’ll respond to the questions on NASA TV, which is broadcast nation-wide.
Polansky won’t actually be the first person to Tweet from space -- that title will likely belong to Mike Massimino, who plans to Tweet from Space Shuttle Atlantis, which embarks on mission STS-125 [on May 11].
[via TechChrunch]
To ask a question, Polansky says to create a video of around thirty seconds and post it to YouTube, then send it to his Twitter account using an @reply. He’ll respond to the questions on NASA TV, which is broadcast nation-wide.
Polansky won’t actually be the first person to Tweet from space -- that title will likely belong to Mike Massimino, who plans to Tweet from Space Shuttle Atlantis, which embarks on mission STS-125 [on May 11].
[via TechChrunch]
May 9, 2009
Twitter Comes to TPL
On May 11, we are going to have our first staff Twitter class at the Troy Library. Lauren Henderson, one of our Technology librarians and Twitter advocate, will be leading the training.
Why teach about the microblog site Twitter? Two reasons.
First, as a library staff, we need to know the tools our patrons are using. Ten years ago, I would not have expected staff to refer a print reference without having first looked at it. Likewise, today, staff should be comfortable with the sites about which our users ask.
In addition to Twitter, we are having staff classes in the photosharing site Flickr, the chat site Meebo, and the feeder Google Reader.
Second, Twitter is a powerful news site. I was convinced of this when I followed last year’s tragedy in Mumbai via Twitter in real time. As the news information industry recreates itself, the real-time reporting of Twitter should be a major component.
There are many who disagree, however, and dispute Twitter’s influence.
I believe Twitter is real. Here is an interesting article from TechCrunch on why Twitter is important.
Why teach about the microblog site Twitter? Two reasons.
First, as a library staff, we need to know the tools our patrons are using. Ten years ago, I would not have expected staff to refer a print reference without having first looked at it. Likewise, today, staff should be comfortable with the sites about which our users ask.
In addition to Twitter, we are having staff classes in the photosharing site Flickr, the chat site Meebo, and the feeder Google Reader.
Second, Twitter is a powerful news site. I was convinced of this when I followed last year’s tragedy in Mumbai via Twitter in real time. As the news information industry recreates itself, the real-time reporting of Twitter should be a major component.
There are many who disagree, however, and dispute Twitter’s influence.
I believe Twitter is real. Here is an interesting article from TechCrunch on why Twitter is important.
Zapatag Lets You Passively Express Your Road Rage
Ever have one of those days when your driving to work and get cut off by an inconsiderate driver? Ever then get the urge to tell the world about how bad of a driver he or she is?
Well now you can, with a new website Zapatag. At Zapatag, type in the driver's car license number and a brief description of what happened. The number and description are then added to a growing database of license plates that is searchable by the public.
It is important to note that the site does not attach any personal information to you or the other driver, it simply records the drivers license number.
The site does not simply give you an outlet to shout at another driver, but to compliment her or him as well. Some of the messages to the site include "Cool bumper sticker" and various other compliments.
The site does not simply give you an outlet to shout at another driver, but to compliment her or him as well. Some of the messages to the site include "Cool bumper sticker" and various other compliments.
The site is still pretty new, so not many Michigan license numbers have been added, but I'm sure this will grow with time.
In addition, you have the ability to send a tweet via your phone or other twitter client that will instantly upload the license number and the description. To read more about Zapatag's twitter integration check this site.
May 8, 2009
Google Continues to Be the Most Popular Search Engine and Video Site in U.S.
comScore, a marketing company that surveys the behavior of digital consumers for businesses looking to expand electronically, has just released the results of several surveys. Two show the dominance of Google on the Internet:
In January 2009, Americans conducted 13.5 billion core searches, a 7% increase over December 2008. Google Sites handled 8.5 billion searches, followed by Yahoo! Sites with 2.8 billion and Microsoft Sites with 1.1 billion. For Google, that amounted to 63% of the market, down slightly from 63.5% in December. The other search engines market shares were equally flat.
December 2008 saw U.S. online video viewing surge 13% in a record-setting month, as Americans viewed 14.3 billion videos as the year closed. Google Sites again ranked as the top U.S. video property with 5.9 billion videos viewed (41% online video market share), with YouTube.com accounting for more than 99% of all videos viewed at the property. Fox Interactive Media ranked second with 445 million videos (3.1%), followed by Yahoo! Sites with 330 million (2.3%) Viacom Digital with 291 million (2%), and Hulu with to 241 million (1.5%).
In January 2009, Americans conducted 13.5 billion core searches, a 7% increase over December 2008. Google Sites handled 8.5 billion searches, followed by Yahoo! Sites with 2.8 billion and Microsoft Sites with 1.1 billion. For Google, that amounted to 63% of the market, down slightly from 63.5% in December. The other search engines market shares were equally flat.
December 2008 saw U.S. online video viewing surge 13% in a record-setting month, as Americans viewed 14.3 billion videos as the year closed. Google Sites again ranked as the top U.S. video property with 5.9 billion videos viewed (41% online video market share), with YouTube.com accounting for more than 99% of all videos viewed at the property. Fox Interactive Media ranked second with 445 million videos (3.1%), followed by Yahoo! Sites with 330 million (2.3%) Viacom Digital with 291 million (2%), and Hulu with to 241 million (1.5%).
How Much Are People Spending on eBooks?
EarlyWord blog reports that Amazon founder Jeff Bezo says the company’s Kindle ebooks now represent 35% of the total print sales of those same titles at the web retail site. That’s an increase from 13% just a few months ago. Amazon currently carries 275,000 titles for the Kindle.
How much are ebook sales contributing to publishers’ bottom lines? The ebook news Web site, Teleread, analyzed stats from Association of American Publishers, showing ebook sales accelerating rapidly in 2008, but estimates they “ will still only represent 1/2 of 1 percent of book industry sales,” for the year, growing to 6% over the next five years.
[via EarlyWord]
How much are ebook sales contributing to publishers’ bottom lines? The ebook news Web site, Teleread, analyzed stats from Association of American Publishers, showing ebook sales accelerating rapidly in 2008, but estimates they “ will still only represent 1/2 of 1 percent of book industry sales,” for the year, growing to 6% over the next five years.
[via EarlyWord]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)